Kalistan

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Empress announces abrupt halt to Rildanoran Talks
Issues of Base still outstanding, says Her Imperial Majesty
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 15, 5663


Her Imperial Majesty speaks in Session of National Assembly on Rildanor

"It turns out that our policy on neutrality was the correct one," said Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Mary I Ananto. "It is one we should have stuck to. We are also correct to protest the naked powergrab in Meriath with regard to the stolen naval base on the Island. But there needs to be significant re-evaluation with regard to our position vis a vis Rildanor." These comments came directly from the Empress during her recent visit to the National Assembly, and signaled a halt in the ever so slight warming in relations with Rildanor.

During the speech, Her Imperial Majesty explained what happened since comments that appeared to fully support Rildanor were released at the very beginning of this year. "We've discovered a number of important pieces of information that have moved us on this topic over the last couple months: First, the initial position we held of cautious neutrality was correct. If seems that from Kalistan's perspective, we cannot abide a break away supported by a foreign power in Seleya. That invites a horrific precedent that is one we cannot set. Kalistan will act everytime this happens in our continent. If there is one pillar of Imperial Foreign Policy, stretching back to the Nicolettes, it is this: Seleya is for Seleyans. Full Stop.

"However: we also, at the time said that we had no evidence that Rildanor was tipping fascist. And we have maintained this the entire time. From what our sources saw, authoritarianism and anti-liberalism is not equivalent to fascism. Anti-capitalism is not equivalent to fascism. Outlawing Parties who are not committed to national unity is not fascism. Rildanor themselves told us their government was not fascist, but described themselves as third positionist. But what can you say? You can agree with someone 85% but if the remaining 15% is not negotiable, 85% is as good as 0%. Kalistan does and always has taken a hard line against Communists and Fascists alike. After looking a bit deeper into what is actually happening in Rildanor since their FM left in late December, the 85% was no longer enough."

Her Imperial Majesty gave much of the focus for an altered foreign policy to Gaduridos, whose Majority Party, the PSSG presented a more nuanced view than Kalistan had, and one, it appears that Kalistan is far more comfortable with. "We had the opportunity for a long conversation with several member of the PSSG in Gaduridos, as well as the Viceroy, His Excellency Lord Treviño in Gaduridos, who laid out the position of the Government of our closest and dearest friend and ally. While the issue of the military base remains firmly on the table, they were able to make the distinction between opposing the naval occupation of even a square inch of that land by Egelion, and supporting Meriath's opponents in Rildanor, which we no longer can. We found, listening to these important Gaduri voices, that we too could separate the two issues, continue to pursue our own legitimate security interests in the region, and not stand with a nation whose ideology violates a key component of our own. Our issue is with the Naval base in Meriath. We need to talk with Egelion to learn more about this, to hear their thoughts. But we don't need to stand with fascism to do it." Her Imperial Majesty thanked His Excellency, the Viceroy specifically for the clarity on the matter.

To remedy the Kalistani misjudgment, Her Imperial Majesty announced that Kalistan has officially halted further talks with the rightist government of Rildanor and will not be advancing a plan to put an embassy in the nation, nor agree to further talks about development aid in the country, until such time that they explicitly disavow, in word and deed, fascism to Kalistan's satisfaction, and seeks meaningful and good faith accommodation with their break away province with an aim to reincorporate the island into the Republic and restore order in the region. "Until that time, we have no interest in Rildanor," said Her Imperial Majesty.

She also applauds the recent statement by Instituto Rosalana Garcia, which is closely affiliated with the PSSG, and therefore reflects to some degree the view of the Gaduri Majority. To support, Her Imperial Majesty has committed Kalistani assistance to the Institute's project of hosting Rildanoran refugees, and helping them integrate into Gaduri society until such time as they either decide to stay permanently, or wish to return home. "Their aim is noble and just, and without exception we support making a safe and secure place for all within this Empire, and we endorse the Gaduri response wholeheartedly, even the comments about democracy and civil liberties in Meriath if that is the sort of place the people there demand for themselves. The Gaduri position is the position of the Anantonese Empire."

Furthermore, Her Imperial Majesty wants to send a diplomatic delegation to Egelion to discuss the base issue. "Without making comment on the chararcter of the Rildanoran Government or the validity of the Revolution in Meriath, the issue of the Base on that Island still troubles Kalistan greatly. This is the first time since Likatonia that a non-Seleyan State has established a full time military presence within Seleya. The base was, if the tune is to be believed, a 'gift' from the Meriath Government. But the base is a transfer of the patrimony of a Seleyan state, whether you call it Rildanor, as we do, or you call it Meriath, as Egelion does to a NON-Seleyan rising power. That must be objected to. We do not recognize the government of Meriath as the legitimate government of the nation, so under that line of thinking, Meriath would not have the power to transfer its territory to another state in the first place, but while that matter is a contentious one, the fact that it is going to a non-Seleyan nation is the real trouble. If Egelion leased it for a time, we would see that as a different matter. But to outright seize it, as Egelion did, we would encourage all to evaluate the consequences of this. Kalistan doesn't often adhere to global norms, but the silence of the liberal portions of the world to seizure of foreign territory is not only deafening, but it is also quite telling that the liberals in this world as just like Kalistan. No better and no worse, because you all only adhere to norms when it suits you too."

To add a little salt to the burn, Her Imperial Majesty continued: "Can you imagine if it was Kalistan instead of Egelion who did this? Who sent its navy to ensure the victory of a revolution and then declared that it is now taking a Naval Base to project its power into a completely new part of the world? Could you imagine the repulsive howls, the crying and whining of the liberal nations in Terra about the injustice of this action? We still get criticized for going to Kundrati, killing actual fascists, taking nothing, and returning home. How much more would these babies whine about international norms if Kalistan actually took a base for itself and began asserting its dominance in a part of the world it had no previous interests in? It's nauseating to even think about it, which is one of the reasons Kalistan does not engage in that sort of behavior. But... When its Egelion... silence. So be it. It's the world we live in. The issue between Kalistan and Egelion therefore remains contentious, and we need to sit down to talk to try at least, as good neighbors, to come to some mutually agreeable resolution."

Her Imperial Majesty said she would like to discuss with Egelion how to work out a solution to this issue which ensures that both nation's interests are acknowledged and discussed. "We do not have hope for a settlement that will make Kalistan happy. Possession is, after all, a fait accompli. We merely hope to talk with Egelion to better understand the situation there, and see if there is any overlap of our interests regarding that base. If not, we will expect to see Egelion support when we reclaim our own national territory from the usurpers who have been sitting on it for centuries." (Edit: This thinly veiled reference to Athosia and other crown lands was later dismissed as a joke by Deputies in the National Assembly. -ed.)

Her Imperial Majesty said she will await a response from the Egelian Ambassador in Kaliburg to her overture and then will ask the Foreign Ministry to set up a summit, possibly in Altea, later this year. She concluded with her desire to inquire about Beiteynese involvement in the affair. "They have done this sort of thing before, we do not doubt they will do it again," she added.

@TheRepublic