Kalistan

[Doc]

Sir Christopher Bjorksdattir flies to Kensington
Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister visits Lodamun to begin proceedings for Accession
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 1, 5585


Sir Christopher Bjorksdattir boards a commercial AeroKal jet to Kensington Lodamun to discuss the Empire

Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister, Sir Christopher Bjorksdattir, has flown to Kensington Lodamun to begin conversations with the Lodamese Government about accession to the Empire.  Sir Christopher departed yesterday for the Northern Seleyan Capital during an unseasonably cold period which is more reminiscent in Kaliburg of late Winter than mid Spring.  But the Minister was not deterred, and the flight took off as expected.

Before departure, Sir Christopher was on hand for a few comments to the press.

When asked what he looked forward to in Lodamun, he answered "I hope its a bit warmer there than it is here at the moment."

Asked what his agenda for the trip included, he answered, "I hope to meet with the President of the Commonwealth, John Haney, and discuss with him how the Anantonese Empire can ensure Lodamese regional autonomy, while at the same time, agreeing to the modest political requests of Her Imperial Majesty.  Joining the Empire will require some small changes to the constitution of Lodamun, but we imagine that transition into the Empire will be as easy for Lodamun as it was for Gaduridos, and they will be able to do so on the same terms that the Southern Kingdom did.  In addition, I hope to be able to speak before the Lodamese Senate and answer whatever questions they may have for me, or for the Empress, with regard to accession, to address their concerns, and to ensure that transition goes smoothly.  We are also arriving with a list of things we are willing to work on together with Lodamun, and areas of overlapping interests that we already share."

Asked what significant roadblocks the Foreign Minister foresees, Sir Christopher said "Well, the thing is, Lodamun has already done most of the work themselves.  We share an historically close relationship already:  Lodamun is Kalistan's biggest trade partner, followed very closely by Gaduridos, due to our long association through the AESA.  We are also both members of the Anantonese Security Community, and several other treaties.  Lodamun also overlaps with Gaduridos on a number of areas.  They are a natural fit and not much needs changing at all."

When asked to detail what regional autonomy looks like for Lodamun, Sir Christopher answered, "Well, I am going to go get some more details to find out what Lodamun wants it to look like.  We do know some things:  For example, Lodamun is a major independent military actor in Western Dovani.  They just signed a base deal with Mordusia, and are involved in some activity in the Migrants' Pass.  The only thing about the base deal will be that the Anantonese Flag will fly above the Lodamese Colors on that base, but it will remain wholly operated by Lodamun, as the Kalistani Regular Navy has no capability or desire to go that far south.  Where Lodamun goes, they bring the Empire with them, but Kaliburg is no more in control of the Lodamese Navy than it is the Gaduri Navy, no more in control of it today than it was yesterday.  Its an image thing, I suppose, and if Lodamun's partners can continue to work with them on the terms they agreed to, Kaliburg will abide by those agreements too.  We have no desire to mess with their industries, or their culture.  We simply seek to tie our historical Empire back together under one Empress and one Flag.  If that is a given, we want to keep hands off in all strictly Lodamese matters, and give them the same latitude to act independently in non-security related foreign matters that we have offered to Gaduridos this entire time."

When asked if the addition of Lodamun to the Empire will have any effect on any other nation's foreign policy toward Kalistan, the Minister responded,  "Why should it?  Kalistan and Lodamun have worked closely together for decades, why should that change now that they accept our Imperial Rubles or fly the Anantonese Standard at military installations and over national Government buildings?  We value Lodamun, and will value their contribution to our Empire, and we won't want to do anything to jeopardize that relationship now that it finally within our reach."

Sir Christopher is expected to be in Lodamun for a month while various details are worked out.  When the enacting bills finally pass the National Congress, Her Imperial Majesty is expected to create the Order of Andalay for Lodamese Peers, and induct both the Lodamese-selected Lord Protector (the equivalent of the Gaduri Viceroy) and the Lord President, or the Head of Her Imperial Majesty's Government in Lodamun into both that and the Order of the Grey Smoke.  Both will be eligible for Lifetime Peerage in the Order of Andalay, but will receive peerage in the Kalistani order only as long as they continue to serve in their respective roles.  It is expected that Her Imperial Majesty will not be devolving the Crown of Andalay back to Lodamun at this time, but will continue to hold the title Queen of Andalay, as she does the title Queen of Vintalli, in trust.