Kalistani Major History

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October 4915

Malivian territorial claims to be dropped after dramatic RNP conference showdown

Following a turbulent conference of the Raktavani National Party (RNP), held in Modalin, Malivia's position in relation to its territorial claims is set to be reformulated for the first time in over a century.

The drama unfolded on day 3 of the 5 day conference. For the Prime Minister, the day began badly, with the leadership's motion to replace the claims to sovereignty with an "aspiration for reunification" heavily rejected by 438 to 62 votes. The leadership then attempted a second motion, calling for the work of the Claims Committee to be suspended. The Claims Committee had been established in February 4911 to examine whether Malivia's territorial claims should be extended to Pontesi, Beluzia, Luthori, Rutania, Ikradon, Kundrati, Endralon, Likaton and the Telamonese island of Suðureyja. This motion was rejected by 557 votes 443.

Party hardliners were emboldened by this victory, and sought to propose a motion to extend Malivia's territorial claims to all of the nations the Claims Committee had been asked to investigate. For a while it looked as though such a motion might be carried, but the tide of the debate began to turn when the Foreign Minister, Vishnu Satavelekar, made an impassioned speech, denouncing the proposal and threatening to resign if it was passed. Several other Cabinet Ministers joined Satavelekar in his position, and even the Prime Minister, Ravi Ranganekary, began to drop hints he would be unwilling to continue in office if the party did not support him on this issue.

At this point, Chanda Dongerkerry, a leading backbencher on the more dovish wing of the party, gathered together the senior figures on each side of the debate in his hotel room, and hashed out a compromise which has now become known as "the Dongerkerry Formula". Under this proposal, the Claims Committee would be disbanded, and the former formulation involving the claims to sovereignty, would be dropped, and replaced by this:

The Greater Malivian Empire, whilst recognising and accepting its current borders, aspires to restore its full historical territory, with the free consent of the peoples now living in those lands and through the free co-operation of their established governments.

The beauty of this fudge is that it allows the doves to claim - correctly - that the territorial claims are being dropped, whilst also allowing the hawks to claim the extent of the "full historical territory" is as wide as they wish it to be, since the formulation does not specifically spell out what the "full historical territory" actually comprises.

At the end of the day, after hours of debate, the Dongerkerry Formula was passed by 289 votes to 211 votes. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, in particular, were visibly relieved.

Legislation reflecting the party's new position is now being debated in the Lok Sabha, and by all current indications, seems likely to be passed.

In the aftermath of the party conference, it has become clear different groups within the party have different ideas about what the new position means to them. One group never cared for the territorial claims in the first place and is hoping Malivia is now finally rid of the main obstacle to relations with its neighbours. Another group sees the "full historical territory" as comprising Malivia and Selucia, and no further. A third group is strongly wedded to the Greater Malivia Act and sees the "full historical territory" as including Selucia, Darnussia-Narikaton, Hobrazia and Keymon. A fourth group, strong in the grassroots party, but weaker in the Lok Sabha and weaker still at Cabinet level, sees the "full historical territory" as going beyond - and in some cases way, way beyond - that set out in the Greater Malivia Act.

Realism surely played a part in persuading the conference delegates to accept the Dongerkerry formula. International sanctions and boycotts have been seriously hurting the economy, and now with the conflict with Kalistan, it was becoming clear Malivia could no longer afford to alienate potential international allies. However, how well Malivia's international partners respond to the latest development remains to be seen. Doubts will remain as to Malivia's long-term intentions, and there can be no doubt that some of those who voted for Dongerkerry's motion did not do so enthusiastically. Nevertheless, it does seem like a new chapter may have opened in Malivia's history of international relations. Dreams of empire are by no means vanquished, but they are perhaps, at least for the moment, not to be allowed to get so much in the way of other important objectives.

Kalistani pirates face the noose



Seven Kalistani pirates have been captured by the Malivian navy and executed by hanging under fast-track procedures authorised by the Ministry for Justice.

Foreign Minister Vishnu Satavelekar has denounced Kalistan's actions at the World Congress General Assembly, and called for an international response against Kalistan.

Optimists are hoping that with the disbandment of the Claims Committee, the way might now be open for Kalistan and Malivia to resolve their differences diplomatically.

Ranganekary asks for Hobrazia to join Lusitan talks

Following an offer of talks from Hobrazia's President Abram Giorgadze, Prime Minister Ravi Ranganekary has proposed Hobrazia send a delegation to join Malivia and Narikaton-Darnussia at the Lusitan talks.

Now that it looks like there will be a shift in position in relation to Malivia's claim to sovereignty over its neighbours, observers are hoping a diplomatic breakthrough may now at last be possible.