La Conferencia de Altéa

[Doc]

Lady Michelle Ananto-Sandoval, Empire of Ananto and Kalistan:

Kalistan would be inclined to support these proposals to the letter if it is made clear that "extremism" as used here is defined as "totalitarian ideologies" and not simply "illiberalism."  We have heard many speeches at this conference which touch a little too close to home, as they consistently posit liberal political ideology as the norm, and any deviation from this as something that must be opposed.  And Kalistan has been lumped in, more than once, with totalitarian states, including fascists ones, which Kalistan has shed blood and been physically attacked for opposing.

This clarification would allow us to endorse the proposals from the Representative from South Dovani.  Kalistan is as opposed to totalitarian ideology as anyone in this room.  We do however, also oppose liberalism as a matter of policy.  If the nations of the world wish to stand together against extremism, totalitarianism, religious intolerance, and regimes that lack basic civil rights and liberties, Kalistan is overjoyed at the opportunity to stand with the world.  If the states that endorse these proposals mean absolutist government, which Kalistan, and by the way, our host in Egelion also utilizes as an organizing principle of our respective polities, Kalistan can not endorse these proposals.

We hope the author of these proposals will clarify the matter so we know what we are voting on.  And at any rate, we thank that delegation for their work to provide us with some actionable proposals.

And as a matter of clarification on our own part, our call for regionalism wouldn't exclude the world addressing a situation like the one the South Dovani Representative describes in Athosia or in Southern Dovani.  This is certainly not the intention of our argument.  It is more designed to address the expansion of exterior forces into our area, which represent a destabilizing force as they move in.  We offer, for example, Luthori's past efforts to expand their political dominion into Seleya.  In this, many speeches have been made against imperialism, and here we agree:  that sort of advancement, without a crisis to address, actually creates crisis and instability.  Obviously Kalistan would have preferred that Luthori stay where it belongs.  But Luthori was not addressing a crisis in making its moves.  It was simply expanding its influence into a place where it was neither needed, nor particularly wanted.  Artania responded a similar way when Lodamun attempted to base a navy in Malivia.  I expect Kalistan would feel the same if some northern country decided to make some country in South Dovani's neighborhood its puppet too, and Kalistan would stand with South Dovani to oppose that threat as well.

Athosia is not a special case:  Both Lodamun and Gaduridos voluntarily joined the Empire.  Whether our Emperor likes it or not, Kalistan is forced to wait until Baltusia were to voluntarily join the Empire as well.  If we wanted to take it by force, we would have.  But what good would that have done when we would immediately spark an international war to do so?  To guard against this, our own law explicitly prevents our Emperor from actively or passively enforcing our claims or even actively pursuing them.  You see:  even international norms that we don't agree with, still constrain Kalistan to a degree.  But if Athosia, excuse me...  Baltusia... were to join voluntarily, Kalistan would welcome them home as we did with Lodamun and Gaduridos.  Kalistan would be opposed to Baltusia making a similar decision with regard to any Artanian nation.

Kalistan is not opposed to international cooperation to address international crises-- in fact we wish we had more of it when we were fighting against the fascists recently.  Kalistan is opposed to foreigners making their home in our region, when quite frankly, there is no reason for them to be here, except to create crises.