Kalistan

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Kalistan Agrees to talks with Baltusia
FM Jeffrey Hewlett will represent Empire in San Luis
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
August 16, 5654


Foreign Minister Jeffrey Hewlett will meet with Baltusians in San Luis later this year

Her Imperial Majesty' Empress Mary I Ananto has agreed to provisional terms to begin discussing several outstanding issues regarding Baltusia's open position, and the security issues it creates for Kalistan. "We have agreed to a tenative framework for discussions under the Umbrella of the Lucid Accords," said Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, Jeffrey Hewlett. "The aim is to meet with Baltusian reps in San Luis to hammer out something that we both can live with that will help restore normal flows and more importantly, diplomatic posture between our two nations."

When asked if he thought that Kalistan or Baltusia blinked in this standoff, Mr. Hewlett spoke forcefully: "We want to be clear. It's not like that. Nobody 'blinked.' Instead, Her Imperial Majesty was encouraged by reading reports of Lodamun's new policies toward Baltusia in light of this deal with Kundrati, and as the Chancellor mentioned this summer, she was always looking for a way to restore connections with Baltusia without sacrificing something that is of vital national interest."

The Foreign Minister could not characterize how he thought the negotiations would procede. "I don't know. Her Imperial Majesty asked me to send a telegram via our Ambassador in Johnston to say that she was willing to at least talk to find out if a solution was even possible. She was encouraged by Lodamun's ability to work out a solution that fits them and is confident that we can do the same thing. Her intention was never to isolate Baltusia. It was always to address the imminent security threats posed by certain aliens in Baltusia. So she has me put out an olive branch of sorts: She has ordered passenger traffic between Athosia and Suldanor restored, though she wants to maintain stringent security checks on all passengers who began transit in Baltusia. She has ordered a pause on planned additional sanctions scheduled to take effect this fall during the talks and still intends to keep cargo on ice. These are starting points, for sure. We want to work with Baltusia to re-normalize everything, but somethings are obviously a bridge too far."

According to the Foreign Minister, the Baltusians agreed to the overture and talks are expected to begin in September or October of this year. "I've been given a significant amount of authority to negotiate on behalf of Her Imperial Majesty while in Athosia and agreements we work out will be binding for the National Assembly, So there is some real hope that we can get credible commitments from the Baltusians on security. Of course Her Imperial Majesty is most concerned about dangerous aliens in Athosia, as that represents a significant security problem for Kalistan and this might be the basis of any future agreements."

On the announcement, the KalSiE, which has been sluggish for months and has gone more than once into negative territory, saw modest improvement on their outlook for the future. Stock yields were up more than 4% on all national industries, and trade and finance sectors saw modest increase in yield. Improvement in the Stock Market also pushed the Imperial Bond rates slightly lower, fending off concerns of a looming recession. Trade volumes remain down from their historical peaks last year before the border was slammed shut, but much of the backed up inventory at Port Elga has been shipped out, or otherwise redistributed, and manufacturers are finally beginning to fill back orders that are six or more months old.

A glimmer of light can be seen by many of in the investment and trade sectors as several analysts are cautiously revising economic forecasts for the end of the year in light of the apparent breakthrough.

@TheRepublic