Problems with Foreign stability

[Firexia]

The "Foreign" category of my stability seems to always be low in all my games, and I'm not sure what's causing it. Does anyone have any ideas?
This is an example from a recent game of mine.

Spoiler :

 

[Sitalkas]

Foreign

Every defensive pact ++
Every open border +
Unstable neighbour when your stable -
Having a vassal +/++
High combat loss - P
Cities traded +/- P
Number of civ contacts +/-
Granting independence - P (BtS only)

P indicates permanent change. +/- indicates a value less than 10. ++/-- indicates a value greater than 10.


http://web.archive.org/web/20090414...ll_of_Civilization_guide_to_stability#Foreign