Kalistani Major History

[Doc]

Interview with David Marley:  Vanuku to return to Bozo River CATC
4th Fleet will begin relocation within weeks
Bozo City, Ananto
January 15, 4527


Foreign Minister David Marley is currently in negotiations with several powers around Terra

The Kalistan Republic recently sat down with newly confirmed Foreign Minister, Socialist David Marley to talk about the diplomatic efforts of the Government of Kalistan.

(Republic reporter) C(atherine) G(eorge): Hello Comrade Foreign Minister.

D(avid) M(arley):  Hello young lady.

CG:  It has been a while since a Socialist has served in the Foreign Ministry.  What has changed since you took office?

DM:  Well, the President has stated that a number of priorities have been unmet, mainly military modernization, which the President hopes to get on the road very soon, as well as re-establishing firm diplomatic links with our neighbors and old friends.  He was impressed at how quickly the recent internal conflict in Kalistan became internationalized and wants to make sure, while he has the chance that this does not happen again.  The way we do this is to ensure that Kalistan is strong, and those those who wish to take advantage of our moments of growing pains, as he says, do not feel emboldened to do so.

CG:  You announced that you had some news?

DM:  Yes, I have been asked to announce that the Defense Minister, working with myself and the President, have concluded an arrangement to first of all base the 4th Fleet of the Kingdom of Vanuku at Bozo River.  The students of now semi-ancient history will note that the base was originally built to house the Vanukean 4th Fleet more than 100 years ago, but they were kicked out due to an unfortunate decision their government made to irradiate Jelbania.  All actors in that tragedy are now long dead and turned to bone, and so it is possible for us to consider welcoming the 4th Fleet home to Bozo River.  This will coincide nicely with the purchase of plans to rebuild our navy and to greatly augment our land and air force.

CG:  Can you give us some of the details of the deal?

DM:  Yes, the Old Status of Forces Agreement was re-established which would allow them to operate from Bozo River.  The only restrictions we placed in the SOFA were that their nationals did not enjoy any extraterritoriality while on Kalistani soil, in that they are to be judged by Kalistani law while they are in port, and any time they engage in matters which would directly and adversely affect Kalistani Interests FROM the Bozo River facility, they consult with the Kalistani Government prior to taking action, so we can weigh in on the matter.  Neither of these provisions touches or diminishes the sovereign rights of Vanuku, but it allows for a modus vivendi with a power which is far more active globally than we are, and provides the opportunity for us to reap the security benefits of association with Vanuku.

CG:  Are there features other than basing which were part of the agreement?

DM:  As a matter of fact there were.  Prior to the conflict which sort of shut down everything, our main defense Industry, the National Defense Consortium, had worked out an agreement with the Company VanuTech for the transfer of schematics and technical knowledge of several last gen weapons in Vanuku's national arsenal.  The thinking was that Kalistan could either buy weapons, as it is seeking to do now from Lourenne, or it can begin producing its own.  We have engineers in Kalistan, though the military engineering side of the discipline has been sorely under utilized and therefore has all but dried up in recent decades.  We have a national ship yard which has been unused for decades now, since privatization of its precursors, and so we figure, with nationalization looming, it will be an excellent time to procure these blueprints and begin building and modifying them for our own needs, utilizing modern technology which we currently possess.  The National Defense Consortium was in the process of getting capital together for the purchases when the conflict broke out and put a halt to all that sort of activity.  Now, with Nationalization all but a done deal, the matter will become a Republican matter, and purchase will be no issue.  We are also still working on procuring armor from Keymon but that was paused too.

CG:  Will this move upset others in the region?

DM:  It is hard to say, but if it does, we beg them to remember:  Kalistan looks to its own interests first.  Just as we would expect any other nation to do.  Where our interests collide with the interests of another nation, it is our own that we pursue.  We are willing to be friends with all other nations on the Globe.  But they must never seek to get Kalistan to promote their own National interests over ours.  Because we never will.  Even if something is in the interests of the whole rest of the world, but it is not in the Interests of Kalistan, we will still promote our interests first.  So if other nations wish to deal with Kalistan, they must remember this.  As a life long Kalistani, we are taught in schools, regardless of who is in power:  The entire world is Kalistani, they just do not know it yet.  You could say Kalistan is very catholic in this fashion.  SO we welcome all efforts to deal with us, but please do not attempt to dictate to us that which is not in our interest. 

CG:  Strong sentiments, Comrade Foreign Minister.

DM:  This is true.  But we have neighbors who try to push us around far too often.  If those countries would instead deal with the Kalistan which is rather than the Kalistan which they think we should be, we would have no problem whatsoever.

CG:  Indeed.  Thank you for your time, Comrade Marley. 

DM:  Thank you for your time, Comrade George.  And my greetings to your new editor in chief, Maxine.  She and I were great friends in school.

CG:  I'll let her know you said hello.

DM:  Thank you.