President Phillips, Remarks to the Open Working SessionPresident Rowan Phillips:
President and Mrs. Chapman, Madame Minister Ashleigh, Generals, Distinguished Attendees and fellow countrymen and women, members of the international and domestic Press.
We welcome you to Kalistan with open hearts and open arms. I hope you have enjoyed your stay thus far in Kalistan. It is with regret that we acknowledge the delay. As you are likely aware, we have just completed major military drills, an election which it appears that I have unwittingly been re-elected despite my explicit intention to retire, and new developments in the campaign for the elections to the Security Council. Many of these initiatives were scheduled during the time in which we were to hold our own meetings, not to detract from our talks, but to impress upon the Government of Hawu Mumenhes some idea of Kalistani Capacities, while others were simply a matter of the calendar.
We are happy to report that Kalistan has endorsed Hawu Mumenhes in the spirit of these meetings for Seat A. Voting on that is completed, and now the only thing we are waiting on is the deadline in the Assembly to pass. We appreciate the fact that Hawu Mumenhes is mounting a serious campaign for the office, and have represented the Government abroad as a progressively minded government, committed to democratic institutions, security and cooperation. We are sure that our promotion abroad will not fail to obtain the interest of several of the abstainers.
I assure you, Kalistan shares the interests that his Excellency the President has laid out here. Kalistan is thoroughly committed to building strong ties with friendly nations across the globe, and we are committed to building security through armed neutrality. Our goal is not to insert ourselves into other nations' affairs, but to keep others from inserting themselves into ours. I think a link between countries on both sides of the MadDog Ocean will do wonders in furthering these goals, and in ensuring that other nations are not tempted to attack each other in our neighborhood.
With respect- The President's stated commitment to trade is also ours. Kalistan has long held a solidly fair trade position- we give all nations the same deal they give us. We are happy to fully open markets (with a few noteworthy exceptions- Our financial Markets are not open, our FDI climate is lukewarm, by design, and we maintain state monopolies in strategic resources and key export commodities) for all states who open their markets to us. We are not averse to foreign investment, especially in the private sector. We create products for export and yet import huge quantities of products which we do not ourselves produce. While exports will always exceed imports as long as the Dual Economy is in place, we would prefer, obviously to trade with everyone to obtain the best qualities and prices that we can for our people. And a solid Kalistan-Hawu Connection will go light years in ensuring this.
Sharing science and technology, culture and commodities, and so forth is in the interest of both of our nations. Offering political and diplomatic support wherever possible is something I believe is in our mutual interest as well.
Getting to specifics, if you would indulge me, Kalistan is prepared to build a comprehensive bilateral treaty between our two nations, which covers all bases from trade to security, to culture. We are prepared first and foremost, and with corresponding agreement from His Excellency's government, begin trading our national commodities for the production of Hawu cities and factories and farms. We are prepared to develop a common military basing agreement which allows us to utilize local bases in each other's countries. We are prepared to build a cultural exchange regime which will allow our people to meet one another, share ideas and inspiration, and eventually grow to think of one another as brothers and sisters.
I would like to propose a number of breakout sessions where counterparts will talk with one another, and each work out arrangements , and then when we are satisfied that each group has their own agreement, we will, as a committee of the whole, discuss all proposals, ensure that one segment does not contradict another, and put them all into a single treaty, which we can both sign. Your Excellency, Kalistani officials will be at your delegation's disposal. I will ask that your Pharma representative meet with our National Director of ODEN, who handles our nation's drug policy, to include our pharmaceuticals industry, and then for the remaining meetings, we will pair ministers.
While they get to work, I would happily escort Your Excellency to my home for a fantastic home cooked meal of Kalistani cuisine. I will be happy to prepare the meal for you myself. It is one of my skills- the ability to turn fresh fruits and vegetables into the most mouthwatering feast you can imagine. We can, assuming your Excellency is so inclined, then chat over some light Kalistani refreshments* which should set Your Excellency and Madame First Lady up for the night, if you are so inclined to partake.
Following the initial introductions between our respective delegations, the ministers may secure themselves as they deem appropriate.
Tomorrow then, I propose we reconvene here at 7:30 am and resume meetings with vigor.
* (OOC: Whenever I say refreshments, I am talking about mind altering substances, which are as common in Kalistan as potatoes, and which come in such a variety as to ensure everybody has as much as they could ever want at any given time; Every Kalistani in the room is so steeped in the drug culture that it would not seem inappropriate at all to use drugs in the presence of foreigners and just assume that the foreigners will want to use them as well...)