Kalistan

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Kalistan is reportedly shocked over Baltusian/Kundrati Deal
"We don't trust the Fascists as far as we can spit on them," said Chancellor
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
December 24, 5653


Chancellor of the Empire delivers a fiery speech in the National Assembly

"We are quite surprised they would even entertain such an offer to sponsor Kundrati workers on this continent," said Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Jennifer Alvarez today in Kaliburg. The Chancellor was there to deliver Her Imperial Majesty's hard rebuttal to Baltusia's recent announcement that they have concluded an expanded trade and travel deal with the pariah district known as Etxean Kundrati. "Her Imperial Majesty was shocked to see that her cousin, the King of Baltusia would even permit such a thing. As such, Her Imperial Majesty has ordered me to take somewhat extraordinary measures with regard to Baltusia until such time as they decide to stop letting Kundrati workers, goods and capital enter their country."

The Chancellor reported a package of immediate measures, including the freezing of all aid, assistance and investment in Baltusia, both public and private from Kalistan. In addition, the Chancellor has ordered the Southern Army onto alert and to deploy to Kalistan's Lucid River frontier, with the goal of preventing any visiting Kundratis from entering the nation.

"We haven't had to deploy our military since Baltusia was in turmoil at the end of the Syndicate Government," said the Chancellor. "Then it was about keeping a conflict from spreading into Kalistan. Now it is about quarantining a plague to our south and West." The Military will conduct searches at the Lucid River port of entry of all incoming Baltusian passenger trains and cargo trains to ensure that no Kundrati nationals or good enter Kalistan. "We don't trust the fascists as far as we can spit on them," said Lady Alvarez. "Her Imperial Majesty doesn't want a single one of those people, if you can call them that, setting foot inside this nation."

In longer terms, Kalistan is preparing to extricate itself from the recenty signed trade and development deal with Baltusia. "That deal was already being stretched by Baltusia's previous association with Kundrati," said the Chancellor. "It is extra work to quarantine all incoming traffic to make sure that Baltusian point of origin stamps are on everything that comes in. But now that they are actively eliminating barriers to trade with Kundrati, and permitting Kundrati Capital, such paltry amounts as it surely will be, to enter the country freely, the free trade deal with not only Baltusia, but other neighbors who adhere to the accord and trade with Baltusia will make its enforcement downright onerous." The Chancellor said a vote to withdraw from the trade arrangement will likely come within the next few weeks. The Chancellor said withdrawal from the trade agreement will reimpose customs and trade barriers onto Baltusia, and will most likely lead to an end of most travel and commerce along the Trans Seleyan Rail line from Lucid City into and from Santiago/Athosia.

The speech was not a complete surprise to most of the Deputies who have been reading news recently of talks between Kundrati and Baltusia. But the moves by Chancellor Alvarez did anger some deputies, especially among the Liberal Party. "Her Imperial Majesty wants to limit free trade and free access by any nation to this continent?" asked Liberal Speaker Timothy Kowalski, of Springfield. "What's next? Blockading Baltusia? Have you no decency, Lady Alvarez? I mean, where do you people draw the line?"

Another Liberal Deputy, Cathy White, said "Kundrati has changed. They show it in a million ways. They have free and fair elections that are the gold standard for a liberal democracy, which is more than I can say for this country. They are a nation that we should ourselves strive to be more like. And Baltusia is our friends. Why should we punish them for doing what is in their own national interest, just like what Her Imperial Majesty insists that we do for ourselves?"

But The Empress was not without defenders. Speaker of the Socaialist Party, Miguel Fernandez, himself recently a harsh critic of the institutional arrangements in the National Assembly rose to take a shot at the Liberals. "You apologists have no desire to work for the betterment of Kalistan. At least the Empress is standing up for what's right. And though I and my members do not trust the Chancellor to do what is right by my Party in this legislature, I do trust her and the Empress when it comes to standing up and fighting against fascism whenever and where ever it rears its hoary tentacles or its ugly head. I for one would like to see harsher penalties against ANY state that coddles those fascists in any way. The Chancellor's proposals seem a little too moderate for my tastes. But I suppose these steps are the ones that Her Imperial Majesty has put forth for now. We'll see how Baltusia reacts."

All this talk about scrutinizing the border over Baltusia's newfound relationship with Kundrati affects everyone in Kalistan, who only recently had reason to celebrate the opening of the tap for overland commerce between Gaduridos and Kalistan via Baltusia. "We were so looking forward to a rail link directly through Baltusia to Valruzia, but Kalistan can't invest in that anymore," said Lady Alvarez. "Her Imperial Majesty just brought property in Baltusia not long ago, and this will necessarily put a freeze on the building of her home, but more that that, we will once again need to rely on the Ocean to transport goods to and from Gaduridos. It will increase shipping costs and time once more, but luckily the infrastructure is in place to easily make the shift, until such time that the Trans Seleyan routes open back up again."

"It was nice while it lasted," said Lady Alvarez. "I just don't get why a nation who has a blank check in the Kalistani investment community wouldn't use it, and instead agrees to permit Kundrati, who has nothing to offer, into this hemisphere. But Baltusia is a sovereign nation, my cousin on the throne notwithstanding. They can do as they please. Kalistan, however, will need to adjust our attitude toward Baltusia for that. Her Imperial Majesty was clear: Baltusia is not the enemy, or even the problem. But their flirting with the fascists creates problems for Kalistan, and family or not, we have to protect our nation from that blight on the world and on the race of mankind."

@TheRepublic