Kalistan

[jamescfm]

The People's Press
Fresh Challenge for Former President
Former President Franklin Foster re-enters National Assembly as the Labour Party leader
Kaliburg, Ananto
May 26th 4141


After nearly a decade as President, Foster becomes Labour Party General Secretary

Kalistan's former President Franklin Foster has taken up a new role as the General Secretary of the Labour Party. In this month's elections, Foster did not stand for re-election instead allowing former Kalistani ambassador to the Security Council Oscar Machado to take the Labour Party's nomination. As a result of support from the Peoples Party, Revolutionary Liberation Front and Populist Environmental Party, Machado was able to secure victory on the second ballot and ensure a fourth term of Labour Presidency. He is expected to propose a cabinet bill in the coming months, which would see the PEP in the Premiership after a brief stint by Buccismo Genesis of the People's Party.

Internally, the Labour Party Congress kept its Central Committee relatively consistent. Mauro Curti, an experienced Assembly Deputy who has served as Justice Minister in the past, was selected as the party's Deputy Leader while Defence Minister Laura Michelakakis moved into Foreign Affairs to replace the outgoing General Secretary Jean-Baptiste Fabian. Yagami Kameko succeeds Curti as Justice Spokesperson while Monique Lyon enters Defence.

Overall, Foster is perceived to be somewhat similar to Fabian in his both his views and his style, which is to be expected given that he was the latter's Deputy Leader for over ten years. In the election for General Secretary, he faced almost no opposition. Former Ananto Governor Lia Schneider, who failed to beat Foster to become the party's Presidential nominee a decade ago, was the only other name on the ballot although Joost Kramer, who served as an officer in the navy before becoming a Deputy, pulled out at the last moment. Foster won a massive 71% of votes cast.

Early signs from within the party suggest that Foster will place a focus on individual rights in the coming term. While closely aligned economically, many of Labour's allies do not see eye-to-eye with them on some social issues. As a result, many of what they consider to be 'essential freedoms', like the ability to smoke tobacco, have been systematically eroded in recent years. The Liberal Reforms Act is the first attempt to restore them. Internationally, new President Oscar Machado is keen to utilise his own personal experience and connections to build Kalistani relations Terra-wide and has suggested the drafting of a replacement for the now-defunct Kalistan-Terra General Friendship Accord.

[Buccismo]

The Fall of Political Parties
Supporters look elsewhere when voting
Kaliburg, Ananto
November 21, 4143

By: Kal Groggi

With the dissolution of several political parties, supporters must look at those parties remaining for the upcoming election in May of 4144. As of now, the Populist Environmental Party, known as the PEP, holds the vast majority of seats in the Assembly with 173 deputies. Though the other three parties - Labour, Ananto National, and Peoples - have lower numbers, they still can attract thousands of voters in the election six months from now.

A mix up in the Peoples Party's caucus resulted in Nicholas Genesis taking the position as Minister of Internal Affairs. It was discovered later that Richard Gola, assistant in the IA Ministry, had been given the majority. However, Gola has conceded the position for now, expecting to take it after the election of 4144. Buccismo Genesis, who started the Peoples Party in 4123 at a young age, has reentered his party, after a stint as Premier of the Republic. The elder Genesis' duration of time in the Premiership didn't lead to much, as he had hoped. Personal needs required his attention and he was glad that the President returned the Premiership to Jacob Knapp.

In returning to the Peoples Party, Genesis expects to become an adviser to Spokesman Quinn Poe. This reporter will report later on the results of the election.

[jamescfm]

Michelakakis: Baltusian President is Clueless
Foreign Minister offers scathing criticisms of Kalistan's neighbour following decision to cut ties
Kaliburg, Ananto
June 5th, 4147


Michelakakis had experience as Defence Minister before entering the Foreign Affairs brief under President Machado

In an exclusive interview with the Republic this month, Kalistan's Foreign Affairs Minister Laura Michelakakis reserved some severe criticisms for her Baltusian counterparts. Following a tense period, in which Kalistan appears to have sided with Aldegar and against their traditional ally, the government has proposed to completely eliminate bilateral ties between the two countries. A transcript follows.

(Arjan Bruineberg, reporter): Good evening Ms. Michelakakis. It's an honour to be talking to you, I hope we might have a productive interview. Let's begin with the main foreign policy situation affecting the Republic at the moment, the situation with Baltusia. Minister, do you believe Baltusia and Kalistan will ever be able to maintain an extended period of peaceful and cooperative relations?

(Laura Michelakakis, Foreign Minister): That's not an especially relevant question but to provide an answer: of course. Nonetheless, on this occasion, Baltusia is undoubtedly behaving in an unacceptable manner. Some seem to doubt this fact but I do not, regardless of the circumstance, the forced deportation of an entire ethnic group is a grave abuse of human rights, the likes of which we had hoped Baltusia would not even consider. If we were not to act, in some way, to weaken the Baltusian government's agenda, we would be totally lacking a moral compass. So as much as it is infuriating to find that- once again- Baltusia and Kalistan are at loggerheads, it is the way it must be.

B: In the Baltusian Congress, the President of that nation said that 'Kalistan has taken a rather prejudice approach to all this'. He went on to say he believes Kalistan 'obviously still holds a grudge against us for some reason', are these comments justified?

M: Of course not! The man is absolutely clueless. His position is that Baltusia has not already admitted to an abuse of human rights, that is a fundamentally incorrect position! I have very little time for anybody who wants to simplify matters of this nature down to playground squabbles. You cannot justify the action that Baltusia has taken by saying that the only reason there is outrage on our side is as a result of past disputes. On top of that, the notion that Kalistan is bias towards Aldegar is complete nonsense. In our view, Aldegar is a totalitarian, autocratic state and there is a lot that needs improving before we could consider tightening our relationship with them but that doesn't justify the kind of response initiated by Baltusia.

B: What is the best possible outcome in this scenario, from Kalistan's point of view?

M: Ideally, not just for Kalistan but for Seleya as a whole, Baltusia cancels their plan to deport all Aldegarians immediately and Kalistan is able to maintain our relationship with them. Furthermore, it would be extremely beneficial if the Shah of Aldegar was to renounce his claim to be the 'rightful' ruler of Baltusia. Obviously, that is a complete lie. Everything else is really over reaction from both sides of this conflict, which is a distraction from the real issues we face as a continent.

B: Moving on from Baltusia, Kalistan has recently drafted the Kalistan-Terra Treaty of General Friendship. What are your goals with this particular treaty?

M: It's something we have been planning for a while. Kalistan has quite a number of deals with individual nations, such as Vorona, Istalia or Sekowo, but we don't currently have a general treaty- which any nation can sign up to and engage with us. We had a similar arrangement in the past but that was far more restrictive than the newer version. The ambition with this treaty is that we are able to establish basic relations- by which I mean exchange of ambassadors, non-aggression and such- with as many nations as possible. As a result, we expect to see improved communications Terra-wide and a greater opportunity for further engagement.

B: Last, does the Foreign Ministry have any information about what we can expect to see in the future, in terms of Kalistan's international standing?

M: All I can tell you is that we will continue to reach out to Seleya and beyond to establish strong bonds with other countries. We remain committed to internationalism.

[jamescfm]

Town Terrorised by 'Birdperson'
Local residents report seeing ten-foot avian humanoid during late night walk
Bennotsville, Ananto
July 5th, 4148


An artist's rendition of the 'birdperson' in Bennotsville

Villagers in Bennotsville are said to be shaken up following reports of a 'birdperson' inhabiting the area around their homes. Willem Peper and Chandra Dara, both seventeen-years-old, told The Bennotsville Herald that they were taking a late-night walk around farmland when they felt as though they were being watched. Willem then claims he turned around and glanced, briefly, a 'being about ten feet tall, with huge wings and beady red eyes; it had a hooked claws like a bird but no beak'. The pair fled from the creature but do not believe that it followed them.

It is difficult to determine the accuracy of the account. The incident occurred, by the pair's own admission, at approximately three-fifteen in the morning. Both deny suggestions that they were heavily intoxicated. Bennotsville is an extremely rural area, with only a few dozen residents- many farmers of some kind. Nonetheless, the incident was significant enough that local authorities reassured residents that 'there was no reasonable risk of attack or harassment by a birdperson'.

Numerous theories are now being propagated about what the birdperson is. We spoke to renowned researcher and paranormal theorist Carlos Fortune and he told us that;

From the reports that I have read and from the brief correspondence I have had with the pair who reported seeing this creature, I must say that I am quite convinced their account is truthful and accurate. Having been contacted by countless individuals seeking fame or fortune with bogus stories, I have become accustomed to telling the fakes apart from the genuine accounts. Obviously, the human memory is not infallible and there may be some corruptions but overall, the story seems legitimate to me.

As for the explanation, there are a number of possibilities. Given that this creature did not attempt to engage the pair nor did it seem to be acting in collaboration, I am dissuaded from saying this is an extra-terrestrial. Nonetheless, it could be that this creature was separated from the rest of its species- perhaps it is an infant- so I wouldn't discount that entirely at this stage. There could be a religious reason behind this. Daenism, Geraja and Yazdism all have notable figures represented by birds that I am aware of. However, I believe the most likely explanation is that this is simply an until-now undiscovered creature. It may have evolved naturally or it may have been created by the government and somehow escaped.

For those who are worried for their safety, my best advice is to leave the area if possible and if not then stay indoors and pray to your God.

Elsewhere, other theories have developed about the origin of the 'birdperson'. One user on social media said 'this is clearly an evil spirit sent to punish the heathenistic nation Kalistan has become' while another said 'it looks a bit like my ex'. Even with so many theories, the truth behind the 'birdperson' is as yet unknown...

[Aquinas]

Bennotsville "birdperson" was me, claims Chakraborty

[jamescfm]

Woman Critically Wounded 'by Bennotsville Birdperson'
Following continued sightings throughout the village, woman taken to hospital claiming attack
Bennotsville, Ananto
December 21st, 4148


One of the numerous trinkets now available relating to the Bennotsville Birdperson

A nineteen-year-old woman from Bennotsville has been rushed to hospital overnight after her partner called to report serious injuries sustained in the fields surrounding Bennotsville. Her injuries, the actual cause of which is yet to be determined, have been claimed to be the result of an attack by the 'Bennotsville Birdperson'. The mysterious creature is said to lurk on the outskirts of the village and stalk local residents late at night. Reported sightings have now reached the dozens, with young couples being the most commonly affected.

Recently, the controversial Pontesian-resident and spiritual-figure-cum-cult-leader Gagan Chakraborty claimed he was in fact the Birdperson, triggering similar 'sightings' across Terra. However, unexplained phenomena expert Carlos Fortune, who has risen to public attention with his observations on the incidents, has remarked that most of these accounts 'lack substantiation and are based primarily on a deeply ingrained religious faith not empirical data'. Fortune has created a website (http://www.bird-watching.ks) where he keeps a record of all reports of the Birdperson's appearance and categorises them into 'hoax', 'honest' and 'undetermined'. He is now composing a book about the case, to be released sometime next year.

Despite constant media attention and the vast quantity of accounts relating to the matter, this is the first occasion when somebody has claimed to be attacked by the Birdperson. It will do little to ease local concerns about safety in the village. Many residents have fled their homes and are now living with relatives however those who remain have exhibited a generally mixed response. Some, who buy into the religious explanation, have erected shrines to the creature and one man was convicted under the new laws against animal slaughter for his sacrifice of a goat. On the other hand, others have looked to capitalised on Bennotsville'a new international status, selling merchandise and nighttime experiences to curious tourists.

[Aquinas]

Chakraborty materialises magic golden Kalguda egg

[jamescfm]

Published on behalf of Kalistan for C
Foreign Minister Appointed Kalistan for C Director
Laura Michelakakis tasked with reaching out to nations still not convinced with Kalistan's candidacy
Kaliburg, Ananto, Kalistan
January 4 4151


The Kalistani Foreign Minister following her appointment as campaign director

Recognising the growing support for Baltusia in the Security Council election, the Foreign Minister has been appointed as the new 'director' of the Kalistan for C campaign, which was hugely influential in securing Kalistan's election to the Security Council in the first place. Since then, however, the organisation has seen its role largely reduced with only sporadic rallies, meetings and campaigns. However, Premier of the Republic Franklin Foster is looking to change all that, by granting the Foreign Minister executive control over Kalistan for C.

Already, a process of appealing to nations across Terra is underway, with a particular focus on abstaining nations. The campaign is hoping to emphasise the tremendous experience Kalistan, as a nation, has over Baltusia when it comes to the Security Council. Furthermore, they wish to highlight Kalistan's far superior record on human rights, freedom and sovereignty- areas in which Baltusia is seen as weak. In order to try and maximise appeal, all three parties with seats will have the opportunity to appoint an 'ambassador', as was the case in the original Kalistan for C campaign.

During a press conference unveiling the revamped structure Minister Michelakakis remarked;

Over time, we have failed to remind the nations of Terra of the crucial reasons to support Kalistan for Seat C. In a situation where other members of the Security Council are consistently missing votes and failing to contribute to discussion, now more than ever it is absolutely imperative that a free, stable and democratic nation like Kalistan represents Seleya. Not only do we have one of the most robust and innovative economies on the continent but we also have a clear record of standing up for the universal values which we all share: freedom, democracy, sovereignty and rule of law.

It's true that there are other nations which would like to see themselves elected to our position but the truth is that they simply are not capable. We need to be able to guarantee that whoever is elected will be there to represent everybody's interests, not just those who it is convenient to support. Kalistan has shown that it will not take sides arbitrarily, we will always evaluate a situation and reach our own decision about the correct course of action. Sometimes, that means that nations which we would otherwise call allies do not support our decisions but that it what sets Kalistan apart.

[Buccismo]

Genesis Retires
After 30 years in public life, Buccismo Genesis retires
Vrassa City, Vrassa
January 20th, 4151

The following article marks the conclusion of this reporter's career. It also shall go over Buccismo Genesis' political career. Genesis began the Peoples Party in 4123, gradually forming a party that has held many Cabinet and other important positions. Genesis himself started as an Assembly Deputy until he was nominated as Premier for two terms. His tenure as Premier held little change as personal tribulations grasped at him. Regardless, he remained a staunch supporter of interventionism and conservatism. While a third term as President of the Republic may be possible, Genesis expects to retire thereafter.


Genesis, as he nears 30 years in public service

While some found Genesis off putting, many adore him. Genesis led an internal campaign for a party militia, which succeeded. He also has an involved family, as his wife became Minister of Justice and his son works as Finance Minister for the Peoples Party. Genesis said this to his party comrades:

I am not leaving you entirely. Rather, I am joining you- to become a part of the crowd that so honored me in my time as Spokesman, Premier, and President. Now, I shall look to my grandchildren and the children of our party. We have come far from humble beginnings. Who knew we'd reach this far?! Let us reach further still and find glory for Kalistan.

[jamescfm]

Showing Our Hand
Premier sets out Kalistan's position on maelstrom of international issues in exclusive interview
Kaliburg, Ananto, Kalistan
November 1st 4152


Labour Party General Secretary Franklin Foster talks to state radio

In a wide-ranging interview, Premier of the Republic Franklin Foster has remarked on a number of foreign affairs issues. Speaking to state radio, he commented on the ongoing Security Council campaign, the deportation of Kotari Ravel- a suspected terrorist from Pontesi- and the apparent cooling of the Aldegar-Baltusia situation.

(Ebele Ayodele, radio host): Good morning, Mr Premier- it's a pleasure to have you with us today! Let's start by talking about Kalistan's Security Council re-election campaign. At the latest count, Kalistan had twenty six votes to Baltusia's eleven. While that doesn't seem like a close race, are you concerned Kalistan's popularity may be waning?

(Franklin Foster, Premier): Not necessarily. Inherent in your question, there is the suggestion that Baltusia and Kalistan must oppose each other because we lie within the same continent- that's just wrong. Although we obviously feel disappointed that some nations, like Istalia, have chosen to switch sides but you'll find that a number of Baltusia's votes have come from abstainers. If they are able to further increase their number of votes, it is feasible they will qualify as the runner-up with the most. That means that we now have a situation where Seleya could have two representatives on the Security Council. I don't think that's a bad thing and I presume Baltusia holds the same view.

A: It can't be denied that there has been a period of worse-than-perfect relations with Baltusia. Do you need feel that Kalistan is at risk of becoming too hostile to its neighbour?

F: It's true that we have suffered a difference of opinion in recent times but that's inevitable. Crucially, we were able to show- through the Aldegar incident- that Kalistan and Baltusia have developed a robust relationship which can endure these 'wobbles' as it were. Having spoken with the Baltusian President recently, I think we are in agreement that the matter was rather overblown. As is often the case, miscommunication and a media frenzy excerbated the problems which existed. We both understand that msitakes were made. If anybody believes that we are returning to a time when Kalistan and Baltusia had heavily militiarised borders, though, they are sadly mistaken.

A: It seems you view the Aldegar-Baltusia incident as concluded, then. Is that the case?

F: From the outside, that seems like the case. In actuality, Kalistan has a single interest in this affair; we want to secure peace and prosperity for all Seleya. The recent elections suggest that Aldegar is moving towards complete reconcilitation and that can only be a good thing from our point of view. Although we maintain that Baltusia acted grotesquely, they have assured us that their action was taken due to a perceived threat and that they are making amends for it.

A: Elsewhere in Seleya, it seems Lodamun is in a position similar to that which Kalistan found itself in a number of years ago. The government of that nation refuses to extradite suspected terrorist Kotari Ravel to Pontesi. What is your view on this?

F: The parallels between the case of Mr Ravel and Mr Benn are clear but to simplify both cases down like you have is wrong. Ultimately, our support is for the elected government of Lodamun. It is their right, and their exclusive right, to determine whether or not a citizen of their nation is deported. It seems that they have decided that he should not be, perhaps because they are concerned for his physical well being if he is returned. Whatever the reason, it is their decision and their decision alone to to make. Any nation which wants to establish itself as the 'world police' will receive no sympathy from myself or my government.

A: You understand that this man is accused of being a terrorist?

F: Of course I do but that is by the Pontesian justice system. Without wanting to criticise the government in that country, it does not hold sway over the sovereign and elected government of Lodamun. It is no secret that Lodamun and ourselves have had our disagreements throughout history but that will not affect Kalistan's commitment to both human rights and the principle of sovereignty.

A: Lastly, can I ask for a comment on the Seleyan Union? There was talk at one time that Kalistan may consider application but that does not seem to have been accurate. Would you consider joining the organisation?

F: Kalistan will not be joining. The Seleyan Union is far too militaristic in its nature and only serves to exacerbate crises; Seleya requires a mediating force in order to solve conflicts like that we have seen recently.

A: OK, thank you very much Mr Prime minister!