Kalistan

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Kalistani News in Brief:  Pontesi visits and nearly nukes Confederation Talks
First Round of Naval Procurement is Successful; Melanie Inti Claps back at Noise Alternative
Kaliburg, Duchy of Ananto
January 7, 5560


Melanie Inti's new folk album seen as direct answer to Noise Alternative

Pontesi Visit nearly scuttles Confederation Talks
A visit from Aram Arevyan from Pontesi this week nearly scuttled the ongoing discussions with Baltusia and other Northern Seleyan Nations currently in Kaliburg, when a well intended comment turned into a gaffe.  The foreign minister of the Majatran nation was in town to have an audience with Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Pavlina I Ananto.  Following the audience, Mr. Arevyan was invited to give brief statements to the Kalistani press, through his interpreter, concerning his meeting with the Empress.  During the meeting he said he expressed his deep condolences for the loss of the late Emperor, Fredrick II Ananto, and wished to restate his friendship and desire to cooperate with Kalistan in the future.  He also took a moment to address Baltusia, as a friendly warning for Her Imperial Majesty.  He added "And we told her that we acknowledge Kalistani claims in Athosia, and plan to do what we can to support those claims."

Upon uttering these lines to the press, cameras flashed immediately, as reporters hurried off to their news desks and report the comments, leaving the visiting diplomat standing at a podium with his translator and a chagrinned Dame DuMont.  The story initially went out in all major newspapers in Kalistan that Pontesi sought to back Kalistan in Athosia, and the fallout was almost immediate.  It was a fully 12 hours before the Foreign Minister could schedule another press briefing and clear the matter up.  "Her Imperial Majesty has sent a personal letter to the Government of Baltusia to tell them that Kalistan has no intention of actively pursuing our claims in Baltusia, and issuing a formal re-guarantee of the Lucid River as the internationally recognized frontier between Kalistan and Baltusia.  While this matter is embarrassing, Kalistan wants to reiterate that nothing has changed between Kalistan and Baltusia: we are still looking for ways to work together, and we are sincere in our efforts for peace and cooperation."  The Pontesi Foreign Minister was present as Her Imperial Majesty's FM did damage control.  Following the comments, Dame DuMont remained on hand to answer questions from reporters about the incident.

The Pontesi's gaffe seemed designed to provoke the Syndicalist Union of Autonomous States, at precisely the time when Kalistan would like to work toward repair of relations.  There is no word yet how San Luis is taking the incident.  Foreign Minister DuMont said the matter did not hurt Kalistani-Pontesi relations and chalked it up to a misunderstanding.

First Round of Naval Procurement has been completed
Three new Indica Class C Submarines were put to sea this week, and have taken their place in the newly formed 4th Fleet.  These are the first new subs to take their place on the line, and were completed in Kaliburg late last month.  The 4th Fleet, which will ultimately serve as an expeditionary fleet, was commissioned in May of last year and has been slowly forming at Port Swedes.  Recruitment and commissioning for the three garrison fleets is on target as well to replace veterans who were repurposed to the 4th Fleet.  The 4th Fleet, which still consists primarily of recommissioned ships from the Naval Ship yards at Kaliburg, participated in drills with the Second Fleet in the Anantonese Ocean this week.  They were given a grade of "C" in readiness, and many deficiencies noted had more to do with the state of their equipment than the performance of the Sailors.  Over the next few years, more new ships will join the Fleet, and complete procurement is expected to be complete by late 5562 or early 5563.

Melanie Inti releases Album of folk music as a response to Noise Alternative
Vrassan singer Melanie Inti released her debut album on VDR this week to much fanfare.  The album, "Kalistan I'm Comin Home" is an album of ballads, protest songs and an ode to Kalistan which describes a traveler who is on a world adventure and only thinks of returning to Kalistan.  The album is considered by many to be a direct response to Noise Alternative, a narrative that inti herself doesn't downplay.  "Well, when I wrote these songs, the radio was very loud at the time," said Inti in an interview with Kalistani Rawk Monthly.  "And, as you can tell, I am a kind of a quiet person.   I don't have a lot of rage or angst in me, so that kind of music didn't really speak much to me.  I was just doing my thing, playing in the local shows, and kinda hiding from the storm.  But now seems like as good a time as any to put these songs out."  Inti, a former model who left her career to become a singer says she likes making music better.  "I get to be kind of a hippy," said Inti.  "Like a peacenik.  I really like sharing joy, and singing about deep emotions and everything.  Much of this music is very romantic, and quiet, and I feel really good about this record."  Inti welcomes the fame and said she looks forward to playing for people all across the Empire.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW_buEbnKGI]
On her album, Inti covered Jennifer Stepanov's 4905 single "My Sweetest Downfall" which has been released as her first single