Kalistani Major History

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President Barajas snaps back at Lourenne"Its about feet dragging and militarism, not isolationism"
Kaliburg, Ananto
November 12, 4425


President Barajas is unimpressed with recent comments from Lourenne

In recent months, the Canrillaise Federation of Lourenne gave an interview which appeared to slam Kalistan.  The President characterized the breakdown in talks, which at one point seemed quite promising, as follows:

"Look:  We were there.  Hashimoto was there, Tass was there, I was there.  They insisted on talking about joining ODEN first, and said they were on track to do so, and that was the last thing they said to us.  The Lourennaise team was called out of the room.  Three hours later, a young intern entered and advised us in Canrillaise that we would not be able to see the Lourennaise team any more that day, as they had been called away on business, and that we were to return to our hotel.  We did so, waited there a day, and another day, and a third day, and were informed on the fourth day that the foreign minister was now disposed in working up some sort of war, which we now see was their war of choice in New Alduria with their Northern Council friends at their side, and that Valois had descended into civil disorder.  We took that as our cue that discussions on other matters were over, and so we returned to Kalistan.

"In fact, we were not missed.  Years passed, we had two new Nations join ODEN from start to finish in the time Lourenne was considering changing their tobacco sales laws without a proposal to that effect, and they have chosen to go to war.  So it is rather confusing to us that the Foreign Minister now takes the opportunity to slam Kalistan for a breakdown in relations, when the failure of talks were actually caused by foot dragging and militarism and not some accused isolationism on the part of Kalistan.

"We are also confused by the accusation of 'isolationism' from Lourenne too.  Does it come now as Kalistan is working on putting together a new association specifically designed to challenge the sort of association, in the thrall of a major power that Lourenne so happily wallows in?  Why does Lourenne believe that they have more in common with imperialist powers than they do with their neighbors?  Why does Lourenne engage in imperialist invasion with the aim to dominate in southern Dovani?  Does 'isolation' mean staying out of the neo-liberal imperial order that Lourenne is promoting on the surface and beneath our planet?

"Lourenne is more than invited to visit us in Kalistan, which, to date, they have not been willing to do.  They are welcome to send an observer to the Non-Aligned Movement's formative meetings and see that it is far more for a country like Lourenne than the Northern Council is.  They are welcomed to break ties with the Imperialists and join an association of their neighbors.  They are already a member of the Anantonese Ocean Pact.  They have already demonstrated that they are willing to defy the demands of the Great Powers who this Treaty is squarely aimed at.  Why not go all the way and give them the heave ho?

"Their response will be quite telling:  Who is more important to Lourenne?  The Imperialist powers of their world or their neighbors.  Lourenne should know that Kalistan is not isolationist.  We are anti-imperialist.  And we oppose ALL imperialist powers, whether they be great power states who think they can push smaller states around or local neighbors who have dreams of empire in far away states.  And Kalistan will oppose that sort of behavior.  It is not too late for them to join Kalistan and Sekowo in making this corner of the world safe from the people they are currently associating with.

"Let me say this:  The Philosopher said that virtue is  caught, not taught.  In other words, a man acquires the habits of his friends and the people he associates with on a daily basis.  Like virtue, vice is also caught, not taught.  If your friends are vicious imperialists, it is only a matter of time before you will be too.  We hope that Lourenne chooses a different set of friends, but let me say:  Their character assassination in their press of Kalistan's impeccable reputation is unwelcomed and will not go unanswered."