From Across the Channel

[Zhola]

The staff of the chief secretariat of foreign affairs hopen to build a consensus in scania. To them the state of diplomacy in the region was an anomaly that they should seek to resolve, most nations were stable democracies, Strathclyde's troubled recent history not withstanding, and had a shared past, mostly thanks to the fennic Great Northern Empire, without the resentment that usually stemmed from historical rivalries or occupations. There were bilateral diplomatic relations, but there seemed to be no fostering of a regional identity or unity, and no conventions for intrarregional cooperation. There was a scanian region, a scanian history, a scanian culture, and there were scanian peoples but no scanian people.

Despite their troubled past, and often troubled present too, the gallic nations had a sense of a regional identity, even if that identity was built at the cost of the ever present threat from the east, which throught the ages had taken several shapes but had most recently taken that of marxism-leninovism, Kadikistan and the Rurikgrad Pact. But it still existed in spite of that and in spite of ever-lasting conflict in the continent. The androssi aspired for a more idealistic regional identity, built not on the need for self-preservation and not used to just remind there are bigger threats to each nation than eachother. They wanted an identity to be foster out of cooperation, not out of mutual-fear.

A meeting with the nedernesian delegation wouldn't suddenly make scanian fraternity a reality, but the prospect of having something on paper to further regional cooperation to have the nedernesians agree to push for other nations to join in on the table for future talks was enough for the foreign affairs secretariat, and at worst the outcome of the meeting would be that Nedernesia would be content with just signing some mutual aid and trade agreements with Andros without commiting to any future plans.

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Councillor Annamari at Horn, the current head of the chief secretariat of foreign affairs, would be presiding over the meeting. Unlike her staff she was a bit more realistic with the prospects of the meeting and she was open to discuss anything the nedernesians were willing to bring to the table without her pushing any agenda in particular. It was her view that the nedernesians had agreed to this meeting with the prospect that signing an agreement on trade and humanitarian aids would be a step in itself for further regional cooperation rather than wating to commit to pursuing that as a goal in itself.

She had arranged for the meeting to take place in the old haven of the city of Londo rather than in the modern executive quarter of the city were the government offices were situated. The government many buildings in that part of the city, and most of them were considered of historical relevance, and she had chosen the offices of the folkestund kommersikompanni, which for a brief time during the 17th century proved to be a somewhat serious competitor for the nedernesian merchant republic, particularly in the scanian channel. Now it housed the offices of the local government, which had gladly lended the location for the meeting

The choice of a building that bound the two nations's histories was meant to evoke something, as it represented a source of conflict once, but which both nations had overcome any historical grievances of, and if they had been able to overcome conflict why couldn't they work towards more than just achieving peace. Inside it's walls were often adorned with paintings of nautical nature, depicting the androssi navies of the 16th and 17th century, along with depictions of 16th century to 18th century londo urban life.

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the folkestund kommersikompannihalle in Londo
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The foreign delegates would arrive at the londo international airport where a small escort would await them and take them to Londo's old haven, after traversing through the business district and the oldtown, during which the foreign affairs deputy would give them a short, albeit monotomous, tour of the city. Once they arrived there would be a short photoshoot with Annamari at Horn at the entrance of the building. The meeting would be relatively incospicuous, and while a small media conference would follow the meeting most of the media scrutiny would come later on tv commentary and on newspapers. There were political events in which the androssi tolerated pomp, and diplomatic meetings were not one of them.

Annamari at Horn greeted the nedernesian delegates smilingly - " Welcome. I hope the ride from the airport wasn't too much " - the airport was nearly an hour away from the city center and a large majority of the local population was against the construction of a second closer airport, and as such even diplomats had to endure the somewhat long distance - " but at least I hope deputy Alfgudsun made it more amicable. " - after the final usual shake of hands for the flashing cameras she signalled the nedernesians to go inside, leading them through the corridors and into the meeting hall.

 

[Vrijpoort]

Lord Archibald Pistorius Larchmont had only been Minister of Foreign Affairs for a few months after his Equity and Prosperity Party was able to form a comfortable coalition in the Senate in January this year. This trip, just a short flight across the Gothic Sea, was his first official meeting carrying out duties to represent the Commonwealth of Nedernesia.

After landing, passing through the diplomatic lane at passport control and being greeted by the welcoming party, he quite enjoyed the short tour through the old city. Larchmont had always enjoyed history and it was nice to see some of these buildings in person. He mused as to the unpredictability of history. Why hadn't Londo become the Vrijpoort of the world? It's location was similar and it also had been part of a country engaged in rabid free trade in the past. It was funny how things developed.

Once inside and ready to get to business, Larchmont added one sugar and a bit of cream to his tea, brought over by a server, and delicately mixed everything with a small spoon, careful not to make any clinking sounds, which was a big no-no in Nedernesian culture. After sipping his tea and satisfied with the taste and temperature, Larchmont set the teacup down on the saucer and cleared his throat.

'Councillor, I must say that my government was pleased to receive your invitation to a meeting. Senior Minister Weldaad sends her greetings and she, as all Nedernesians, are grateful to the assistance your country has provided in the aftermath of last month's terrible earthquake and tsunami.'

Larchmont had a habit of munching while meeting and instinctively grabbed a biscuit and washed it down with his tea before continuing, completely unaware of the slight pause and awkwardness it may have brought to the table.

'Our two countries have been friendly neighbours for many years. It is indeed strange that we have not solidified and expanded upon these good ties. There is much more that we can do, perhaps even in the wider region. But seeing as that I am a guest and you are the host, I would like to hear what ideas and thoughts you had before I present my own.'

Larchmont smiled and resumed his invasion of the biscuit plate while his aides sitting along the wall of the meeting room scribbled away taking copious notes.