Kalistani Major History

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Prince Bjorn Discusses Kalistani Affairs
Invited crowd includes press, foreign policy elites and business leaders
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
April 30, 5536


Prince Regent Bjorn Ananto addresses Kalistani Elite at Imperial Seat in downtown Kaliburg

The Prince Regent was the keynote speaker at this year's Spring Luncheon, a developing annual affair where members of the Anantonese State rub elbows with Policy elites, business executives of Kalistan's major public and private firms and members of the press. Notably included were members of Kalistan's labor unions and growers' syndicates from various Duchies, as well various noted authors, actors and musicians. The Luncheon is in its third year, but this is the first time the Prince Regent was in attendance. It is part conference, with panels and discussions of public affairs, and part grand dining experience put on by award winning chefs from Kaliburg Polytechnic Culinary School.

The panels were well attended, and included discussions of the growth in Kalistani trade contacts over seas and in Seleya, new developments in energy recycling in hybrid and hydrogen based engines, expansion of several of Kalistan's capital, durable and strategic goods supplies, and various international incidents that, while steering clear of them, may none the less have some effect on Kalistan, especially in exports. The panels were primarily a networking opportunity for the elite guests of the luncheon, but the main attraction was the keynote speech, delivered by His Highness, the Prince Regent Bjorn Ananto-Nordholm. Below is the transcript of his brief remarks.

"Peers, Members of the Order of the Grey Smoke, Assembled Dukes, Counts, Barons, and Marquees, members of the Press, Members of the Unions and the Syndicates, Members of ODEN, and sundry others. I want to welcome you all the the third annual Spring Luncheon.

Please indulge me while I take a moment to tell you a story. It has to do with my beloved Nicolette, who we have lost... She used to tell me that the best way to improve my Vrassan was through public speaking. You see, I have always been self-conscious about whether I had an accent, or whether I was pronouncing words correctly, or if I was saying things precisely as I should. It is not a speech impediment: I simply did not have the good fortune to be born among you and the opportunity to speak Vrassan as a first Language. So I was always learning and watching, to see how she pronounced things and spoke and said things.

Many of you do not know Nicolette as I did, though she was your avatar as a people. But I knew her and I will tell you, in public, she was the Ice Queen: She was very dispassionate, because she had to be. She was not allowed to appear to have fun or take things lightly, because it was explained to her, by her own mother that if she laughs too much so other people can see her, they will not take her seriously, they will not tremble in dread as she passes by, and they will not show her the deference and courtesy that she is due by virtue of her birth. Instead, they will treat her as if she were common. Nicolette was nothing if she was not royal, by both blood and demeanor, but her mother told her that some people treat joy as a weakness, and in public, she must be even keeled, not too hot nor too cold, not showing contempt nor showing favoritism. She must not let them see her laugh.

But in private, she did laughing enough for two full lives. Our home was one of so much joy. So there was one day, when I had to make a dedication of some thing, like maybe opening a bank branch or something, and I had to give a little speech. And I asked her if she had some advice for me to make this speech better and clearer and meaningful, though it was some mundane thing.

She said "Well, You will be standing there in front of an audience and you may get concerned that all the people there stare at you." And I said, "I suppose you mean, I should imagine the crowd naked." I think I read that while, you know, learning about public speaking. They always tell you to imagine the crowd naked you know. And she said "You could do that, but when I give a speech, I imagine myself naked. This way, I know that no matter what I say, I can't possibly be more embarrassed by that than I would be if my dress suddenly you know, vanished." I laughed to hear my wife describe her own anxiety, because you know she was the model of poise, and to hear her thinking of herself like that was rather funny to me. I think I told her something like Yes, I can imagine that too, and we giggled and she called me bad and everything, you know--we were so young then and it was something to say that was as you say, kind of bawdy...

Anyway, we had a laugh at it, and then I had to go give the speech, and well... as I was standing there, I was trying to remember what she said to me, and I started getting kind of nervous, but then her words rang in my ears, and I will tell you, the first words out of my mouth were "Man, I do look good today!" I tell you, I don't my face has ever turned redder, as that crowd sat there silently in confusion... I finished the speech and went home to tell Nicki: "I don't think they will ever invite me back..."

I've given a lot of speeches since then, some I wanted to give, some I had to give, but her advice still goes with me, and I will say, even at my age, I do damn look good!

*The crowd roared laughter and applauded*

Now to the actual topic of my speech, and hopefully I have taken up enough time so I can only get through a few of these points before they 'play me off' so to say... I don't think it is news that Kalistan is in very good shape. Our long standing practices of fair trade have brought us new partners, and our markets are more open now that they have been in living memory to both foreign goods and foreign investment. We have made several important improvements to the economy to allow for foreign nations to begin investing more aggressively in domestic production and in finance. We have made banking reforms, and have worked diligently to continue Nicolette's infrastructure projects, with extension of the National Rail in Kalistan to more cities, and the expansion of the ship building and servicing facilities at Port Elga. We have also secured vital assets for Kalistan's national defense, and we are now more secure from international threats than ever before.

There are a number of international events that we are keeping very close watch over, to ensure that they do not expand to our part of the world. The Sekowan peace has been secured, but there is still a major conflict going on over the Vascanian annexation of its neighbors. Kalistan has deliberately not taken a position on this affair: We do not feel that we have enough information on the matters underlying the annexation to decide to take a side. However, we would reiterate that Kalistan stands unequivocally on the side of recapturing territory that has historically been taken from some country, and if it appears that Vascania was restoring its control over territory it once held but was illegitimately taken from it, The Empire will stand for that principle. It was a position that Nicolette had arrived at toward the end of her reign, and it is also one both I, and the previous regent, Duke Victor of Suldanor have impressed upon the Emperor Fredrick II. This is an important principle of national sovereignty: Territorial integrity occasionally will supersede the principles of liberal internationalism. As a result, Whatever the situation in Vascania, Kalistan stands on the side of restoration.

Kalistan is watching with great interest the various wargames taking place to the south of Gaduridos. I would like to thank the Baltusian Government for honoring our policy positions regarding the use, even in simulated environments, of weapons of warfare near Imperial waters. Their measured and reasonable approach to the matter allows them to get the training in that they seek, honors their right to conduct their military training operations as any other sovereign nation would be allowed to, and also steers clear of any possibility of provocation of the Empire. Kalistan wants to live at peace with our neighbors and work together to enhance regional and continental security. But we also will do whatever we can to avoid the insecurity of uncertainty. The Baltusians who have agreed to conduct their wargames far away from Kalistani waters, have done their part to avoid the possibility of any confusion, and I appreciate their opportunity to build trust with them. Our submarines still patrol the sea between Kalistan and Gaduridos, but the patrols are merely routine, and are not associated in any way with the actions of Baltusia. It is our hope that this foundation can be the basis for new relationships with Baltusia.

On Gaduridos, I appreciate the efforts of Duke Victor on behalf of the Anantonese Empire, and his tireless work for the benefit of the Vintallian territories. Kalistan's presence in Gaduridos is historical, and as our influence there continues to grow through trade, military and financial support, it is my hope that Gaduridos sees the obvious benefit to association with the Empire. A stable and prosperous Gaduridos, Gateway to the Indrala and Aldegar, is as beneficial to Kalistan as it is to Gaduridos, and we put our considerable resources toward stabilization, both political and economic, with the aim toward alignment between our two nations. We share so much with Gaduridos, to include their dialect of Egelian, a love for Gaduri food, a love of Gaduri culture and music, and a genuine appreciation and affinity for the people of Gaduridos. We wish to see Gaduridos prosper: Doing so supports the Emperor's titular oath: in fact, the dynastic appellation is popularly known as the 4th, or Gaduri Dynasty. Our destinies are forever bound together under the Crown. But while we remain separated politically, Kalistan will still continue to invest in Gaduridos, advise their government, and help arm and train their National Guard forces to ensure Gaduri security and peace.

In closing, I have about three years left in the position of Regent. It is my great hope after that that my son, the Emperor will take up his duties of service to the people of the Anantonese State. I hope that I am allowed to retire in peace: I began speaking of the Empress Nicolette, my heart. When she was taken from me... from all of us, please excuse me... from all of us... I didn't even get to say goodbye to her properly. I was in a coma when they put her in the crypt. I have never had the opportunity to feel the grief that is the proper due of a husband that survives his wife. There are many days where I wish I could join her, but the Empire cannot allow me to feel those feelings for too long. I mean to say, before I start sobbing as a little baby, that I have held this Empire together so that my son will properly inherit the Empire his own mother would have left for him. I have taken steps to make his life, perhaps a little easier in some ways, but in other ways, maybe more complicated. But in three years, it will be his to govern. I will always support his right to rule all he is entitled to, and will support this family to my dying day. Which, after giving up the Regency at the correct time, will be closer to me than my wedding date. I hope to visit my family's home in Kazulia, and perhaps celebrate Kazulia's accession to the Non Aligned Movement. I miss so many people, but these three years will present unique challenges, and I do not have time to dwell on that right now. I thank you for your attention and your indulgence, and if I may ask one more favor from you, People of Kalistan, may I thank you in advance for your applause."

The crowd gave the Prince Regent a standing ovation, a salute he returned, before waving, stepping away from the podium, and nodding respectfully to the color guard before returning to his suite in the Imperial Seat.