Kalistan

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FM Explains Rildanorean Visit
"We don't support Foreign Intervention into Seleya"
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 1, 5663


FM Hewlett Appears on "Kalistan Today" with Terrance Albertson

In a popular daily call-in show through Radio Kaliburg Kalistan, the host of "Kalistan Today", Terrence Albertson scored an interview with Her Imperial Majesty's Foreign Minister Mr. Jeffrey Hewlett, concerning the recent visit of the Rildanoran Diplomatic Staff. At many times the exchange between the two was tense: Albertson is a known supporter of a more liberal orientation for Kalistan, and has frequently supported increased liberalism in the economy and in the political system.

"It is imperative that Kalistan counters foreign intervention in Seleya," said FM Hewlett. "Failure to respond sets a dangerous precedent for those nations out there who are sharpening their knives and licking their chops for the moment when they can descend on Seleya and carve us up for their own benefit. We see it starting to happen in Rildanor. Who's next? Aldegar? Baltusia? Valruzia? Kalistan?"

The minister defended Her Imperial Majesty's decision to accept the first overtures from the National State of Rildanor. "First let me clarify something," said Mr. Hewlett. "The government in Rildanor is not on the island of Meriath. Meriath, as it is now, is a break away territory that is being propped up by a foreign power, in this case definitely Egelion. It is an illegitimate state in revolt and a protectorate of the Kingdom of Egelion. And furthermore, it is likely that Beiteynu, who seems to be behind a lot of this kind of stuff, is also behind Egelion's invasion of Selaya. So honestly, Mr. Albertson, Why would we recognize them? It would be like Suldanor declaring independence after getting the green light from someone like Dorvik, a countery all the way over on the other side of the planet, and then when Kalistan goes and attempts to put down the revolt, a foreign navy interposes itself between us and the revolt to ensure the revolt's success, and then claiming Port Elga as its payment for helping a revolution to success. That's precisely what happened in Meriath, and we would never support that, not in Kalistan and not in Rildanor."

The Foreign Minister was clear that it also saw commonality in ideologies. "The legitimate government of Rildanor has declared its purpose to be nationalist development of their state. For centuries that benighted land was a mere latifundia of Canrille: A backwater that was deliberately kept underdeveloped for the purpose of extraction of resources. What is clear is that some people, who have apparently declared themselves to be the successors of Canrille, and are seeking to re-establish a relationship they were never a part of in the first place, are not satisfied with a nation attempting to improve itself without the watchful eye and careful cultivation of a mother state. But every nation committed to both national development and Seleyan identity ought to side with Rildanor, not Meriath. This is a Seleyan cause, one nobody can expect a Kerisian state to understand."

Hewlett took a strict national development line on Rildanor. "We invited them because we would like to be there to help them balance the scales. Aircraft carriers are one thing, but what Rildanor needs is infrastructure and development, that they own, that they control, and which will benefit their nation. Upon the visit of Foreign Minister Simon Bruneau, I was asked to offer him whatever aid his nation will need. He was non-committal on the aid, which is understandable: The last thing anyone wants is to interrupt the process of national development. But he knows Her Imperial Majesty has made the offer and we are willing to work with them on a host of issues, short of direct military involvement in Meriath."

The foreign minister pushed back on claims that Rildanor is violating civil liberties from the Mr. Albertson. "Well, I think there will be a time for civil liberties," said Mr. Hewlett. "But first of all, they just got out of a war and need to rebuild, and restoring order is far more important than enabling the opposition to keep causing disorder and chaos in the state. And besides, not everyone shares your love of liberalism, Mr. Albertson." Albertson countered that he is not a liberal. "Please, Sir, don't insult me," said Hewlett. "I happen to listen to your program daily. You support capitalism, you support democratic pluralism, and you rarely say a good thing about the benefits our state brings to this society and this continent.

"Look", he continued, after Alberston attempted to interrupt him. "Rildanor opposes capitalism and communism. We do too. Rildanor opposes liberalism. So does Her Imperial Majesty's Government. It is a plague. Neither of us supports parliamentarianism or political pluralism. Neither of us support internationalism. We have a lot in common. Certainly a lot more than we have in common with the Egelian virtual colony in Meriath, a place that actually claims to like all these things that we oppose, though the reason for the revolution in the first place was because the radicals in Meriath didn't like the outcome of an election, and anything else is a thinly veiled attempt to justify the unjustifiable. Why wouldn't we stand with Rildanor? They have been attacked by radicals and foreign interventionists. Kalistan wouldn't want that to happen to us, why would we stand by when it happens to others?"

Hewlett handwaved other objections. "First of all, its not a double standard, Mr. Albertson. No... No sir. Kundrati was and still is an actually fascist state. They had concentration camps, gas chambers, storm troopers, illegal medical experimentation on their prison population, a prison population that lived in virtual slavery... the list goes on and on. Their supporters were fanatics. We see none of that in Rildanor. And quite frankly, it insults the memory of those who lost their lives fighting the actual fascists in Kundrati for you to even attempt to compare the two countries."

And he continued, "And second of all, we don't just 'hate republics' as you say. We trade and have great relationships with plenty of republics. And plenty of constitutional systems. That is not the issue here. Our point is that Rildanor is a country worth working with, and so we will. And to be quite fair, if Egelion had not swiped a naval base for themselves as a spoil of a pure war of choice in a part of the world they really have no business being in, we wouldn't even know where Rildanor was. But they decided to do that, likely at the urging of some dark forces that are moving once more in the world. So, now we do know where Rildanor is. And we want to help."

The Foreign Minister said he intends to make a reciprocal visit to Rildanor in the summer of this year, and would bring with him a formal offer for exchange of Embassies. "Kalistan does not maintain a diplomatic presence in Southern Seleya. That needs to change. Ideally, Her Imperial Majesty would like to place an embassy in Alkenne Rildanor. That will be something for our next discussion. At the very least, Rildanor has moved to Kalistan's top tier of states that we need to pay attention to, and so it is now on our ongoing agenda."

In conclusion, the FM said "We did not ask for this role, but now that it is in our face, it's one we embrace. We hope to discuss Rildanor with other nationalist States in Seleya as well. As this sort of naked foreign intervention is a concern for all of us."

@TheRepublic