Kalistan

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Kalistani News in Brief: Empress Contemplates Brethrenism;
Empress says goodbye to Romulo the I; Athosian Mission fully staffed as Baltusia goes dark
Dulnerstaad, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 20, 5656


Her Imperial Majesty joins Chancellor of the Empire at the North Point Meetinghouse in rural Dulnerstaad County for a Meeting for Discussion

Empress Contemplates Brethrenism
The Empress has been on a nationwide tour this winter, aiming to meet with various Brethrenist Meetings across the Empire. This tour of the nation is part of her deepening association with the Democracy Forum in Mainland Kalistan, which continues to offer her opportunities to meet people and speak directly with them that began a few years back and culminated in the creation of a multi-party system and the first competitive election in living memory in Kalistan. "It is important for a nation governed by Imperial Fiat for the Empress to make the attempt to hear what her people are asking for" said Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Jennifer Alvarez-Miller. "She never wanted to be cloistered, but this is also a challenge for her, because the Monarchy has been insulated from the people for generations, and so she doesn't have a lot of experience meeting with lots of different people. As she gets more used to it, she does better talking to crowds, and the people we are meeting are saying good things: they ask tough questions, but they are also patient with her and generally welcome the opportunity, even in Suldanor, to meet with her."

Each stop on her tour has begun with a silent Brethrenist Meeting for Worship, followed by the Formal Audience. But there are signs that the Empress may be looking into Brethrenism as a belief system. "Her Imperial Majesty is notoriously atheist," says Lady Alvarez. "But she asks questions, not only in meetings, but she asks me questions that do not have anything to do with government. I gave her a copy of the Kaliburg Faith and Practice and I believe she read it cover to cover in the first week she had it, and she raises questions in Meeting which surprise even me, a lifelong Brethrenist. She is curious about the Peace Testimony, and has even asked about the Simplicity testimony. I think one of the reasons she asks questions like this in Meeting is to show the Friends that she understands our Faith and Practice, to kind of overcome the barriers that are associated with that, but lately, she has been asking me how to join a meeting, and I am happy to help her."

She most recently held audience in rural northern Dulnerstaad County at the North Point Monthly Meeting House, and was treated to a genuine Brethrenist Pot Luck, a first for the Empress. "Brethrenists like Quinoa, for some reason," said Lady Alvarez. "Pickled Beet Quinoa was certainly not a new thing for me, but Her Imperial Majesty, being a vegan, seemed to rather enjoy it. She was certainly far more polite about the dish than I was able to be. I have eaten my share of food prepared by hippie Brethrenists at Potluck, but this was too much for me, while Her Imperial Majesty took seconds."

Empress says goodbye to Romulo the I Montalivet-Sildavia
While Her Imperial Majesty attended the funeral of Romulo I Rey of Egelion last summer, she made a special trip to Egelion last month to pay special tribute to the King. While in country, she visited with La Madre Reina Nicole I, who is her cousin by adoption and took an opportunity to introduce the Minor Crown Prince Fredrick-Martin David Ananto-Collins to the new King of Egelion, Artemio I Rey. "The Crown Prince is significantly younger than the new Egelian King," said Lady Marian Southern, the Empress' longtime spokeswoman. "However, their two reigns will overlap significantly at some point, and it is thought that introducing the new Crown Prince, now that he has begun assuming some family duties, will allow the King and the Emperor to develop a report. The Crown Prince has expressed interest in possibly taking a semester to study Egelian in the Northern Kingdom during High School, and his admiration and appreciation for the the nation of Egelion is clear."

While in country, the Empress was asked to address a local expat women's organization, the Daughters of Ananto, which count more than 250 members in Altea alone. The topic of her after-dinner Keynote speech is the Importance of good Kalistani-Egelian relations in the Anantonese Region. The dinner was by invite only, but according to Lady Southern, who was present, the speech covered the efforts Kalistan and Egelion have made to ensure that our region remains secure, and the direct tie of that security to our joint prosperity. She also praised the late King and the Queen Mother, and expressed hope for a deeper relation with the new King Artimeo going forward. Finally Her Imperial Majesty added a section about the importance of cultural exchange and the free movement of people between Kalistan and Egelion and said that Expat organizations like the Daughters of Ananto are one of the many key groups that help foster good relations between the two nations.

Athosian Mission fully staffed as Baltusia goes dark
Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Jennifer Alvarez-Miller reported that the Athosian Consulate has been opened in San Luis, Santiago. The consulate was intended to be both a second consular post in Baltusia, as well as serve as the working Headquarters of the Athosian Trade Liaison, which was to administer the Lucid Accords governing trade, migration and transportation over the Lucid River frontier. The Mission is now open and fully functioning, and is coordinating those areas with Baltusian counterparts, thought the Government of Baltusia in Johnston has ended communications with the outside world.

"It was luck that we completed this mission fairly quickly," said Lady Alvarez. "I assume that the Baltusian Government is still in place in the Capital, but they have not communicated instructions to us here or to their own Nationals with whom we are liaising. The Baltusians, who are very helpful and also fully understand the local situation better than we do, have been eager to continue to work with us until they hear from the National Government. But right now, we are keeping the Trans Seleyan Railway open, and keeping the freight and passengers flowing north and south through Santiago/Athosia, as well as ensuring that the port of San Luis remains active and operating efficiently to provide goods and services to the nation of Baltusia."

The Mission Consul, Hon Walt Jones, remains in contact with the Kalistani Embassy in Johnston, whom he receives instructions for the Kalistan part of the Athosian operations. "So far the word is to continue cooperating with the Baltusians in Santiago to ensure that business remains as usual, whatever the Baltusian Government is doing. We are working directly with them to keep our part of the deal, and to offer them support as they start to administer the region in accord to Baltusian's standing policies, and perhaps when Johnston decides to reactivate, they will provide new instructions." Jones noted the support of the Monarchist factions in Santiago, who have enthusiasticly greeted the Kalistani Liaison and Consular officials, and have had several meetings with Kalistani diplomatic staff to ensure that Kalistan and Baltusia continue to cooperate in the State.

"We're kinda following the lead of the Baltusians here," said Consul Jones. "It's just best policy to keep everything in place, and it is basically the same policy followed by Kalistan toward Gaduridos decades ago."

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