Kalistan

[Doc]

Kalistani News in Brief: Kalistan continues work on Sonar Monitoring
FM considers visit to Likatonia; Imperial Home completed in Athoisa
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
September 14, 5657


Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister Jeffrey Hewlett discusses potential opening toward Likatonia

Kalistan Continues Work on Sonar Monitoring
The Imperial Bureau of Security Intelligence announced that is will be upgrading its anti-sub sonar network in the Northern Anantonese Ocean, and continue its cooperation with the Commonwealth of Lodamun. The intelligence sharing agreements between Kalistan and Lodamun predate Lodamun's accession into the Empire, and have involved Lodamun sharing its library of sonar contact signatures with Kalistan, and Kalistan sharing live intelligence data with Lodamun. The integration of intelligence collection and analysis between the two countries has ensured that Kalistan and Lodamun have eyes and ears on all that passes on and below the waves, and the monitoring is one of the most significant programs operated by IBSI.

Now that Lodamun is developing X Band radar platforms for the Mad Dog Ocean and has begun planning its hydrophone system expansion into Western Seleya, the IBSI announced its desire to upgrade its own hydrophones to match the newer technology employed by Lodamun to maintain the integration with Lodamun on monitoring. "We don't want any daylight between our nations' capacities," said IBSI Public Info Specialist Marcia Warren. "It's important that we maintain this integration to maintain our levels of security. Lodamun watches the front yard and we watch the back yard, and through this mutual cooperation, we have kept the Northern Anantonese safe for decades." Warren said Kalistan has long kept the Anantonese Ocean heavily monitored for a long time, but stepped up its efforts after the sea based attack on Xsampa before the Artanian War.

The upgrade in the sub net throughout the Northern Anantonese Ocean over the next several years, and meanwhile, several exercises will be conducted through the Ocean to test the new systems as they come online. The Imperial Government says it will also cooperate with the Lodamese as they bring their new systems online as well.

FM Considers a Visit to Likatonia
Kalistan has not had any dealings with Likatonia after the ceasefire and withdraw from Likatonia during the war and the official apology Kalistan issued to the Likatnoian Government, but now, Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Mary I Ananto's Foreign Minister, Mr. Jeffrey Hewlett, has announced that Likatonia is back on Kalistan's Radar. "Her Imperial Majesty has asked me to dedicate some of our resources to researching the developments in Likatonia. She wants to take it slow to not upset the balance in Northern Seleya, but she is cautiously optimistic that relations between our two estranged companies can be improved."

The Foreign Minister cited wanting to ensure that any overture toward Likatonia won't upset Kalistan's relations with other nations like Likatonia. "Obviously we need to be cognizant of the position other nations take vis a vis Likatonia," said Minister Hewlett. "It is our understanding that Lodamun, for example, still maintains strong economic and passage restrictions against Likatonia. So a full opening toward Likatonia would perhaps upset the relations with Lodamun. But we do at least want to research possible avenues of approach, in case there is something that we can work on."

The Foreign Minister announced the intention of the Imperial Government to send a study team to Likatonia to observe the new government from in country, and to report back in six month with suggestions and recommendations for Her Imperial Majesty. "We will look forward to their departure and then their report," said Mr. Hewlett.

Imperial Home completed in Athoisa
Her Imperial Majesty's new home was completed last month in Athosia. The home, which will be dubbed Playa de la Paz, sits on a stretch of beach that is 10 miles south of San Luis, Santiago and is built into a fairly dense tropical forest. It has a train flag stop that serves the home to allow residents, visitors and staff to travel by train to either San Luis or to Lucid City, as well as newly built electric, water, and transit infrastructure connecting it to San Luis. The property developer, Baltusia's Morris Selway, has also organized some services to be built on property that will allow the Royal Family to acquire groceries and other services when travel to San Luis is not possible or preferable. Construction at the site took two years longer than originally expected due to the Lucid Crisis which closed the border temporarily, and stopped work on the site until the signing of the Lucid Accords allowed work to continue.

"We want to make this property into a full service resort for the Royal Family, their guests and those who staff the Estate," said Selway. "And I think we have met Her Imperial Majesty's expectations. She can take residence here and feel completely comfortable and at home." Selway said that local farmers have been invited to begin planting orchards and food on the property so that the land is not simply left unused. "Much of this food will be purchased by the Royal Family, but it is also designed to create economic opportunity for the local farmers of rural Santiago." In all the Estate is expected to employ a staff of more than 200 individuals, and will remain opened year round to be used as a vacation home for members of the extended Royal Family when the Empress is not in Residence.

Playa de la Paz is expected to serve as Her Imperial Majesty's Winter Palace, which will necessarily divide her and the Family's time in three between Playa de La Paz in November through February, Kaliburg from March though June, and Wood House from July to October. The National Assembly is altering its calendar to remain out of session during the Winter Months, and hold session during the 8 months of each year while the Empress is in Residence in Kalistan. The Chancellor of the Empire has stated that Her Imperial Majesty will fly the Baltusian National Flag above a banner that is 1/3 Red and two thirds White behind a single Gold Star, to signify the historic colors or Athosia on the grounds while she is in Residence. This choice will symbolize the acknowledgement of current Baltusian sovereignty over the Duchy of Athosia, to which Her Imperial Majesty maintains a Title. (The independence of Santiago/Athosia is not being claimed with this move; The Chancellor states that this is merely an acknowledgement of the Historical Status of Athosia, and Her Imperial Majesty's Historic title to the State. Lady Alvarez also says that each duchy should commission new Banners for their Duchies to represent historical colors and designs.)

@TheRepublic