Serenierre
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Imperial Treasury
Shahdara
The Imperial Treasury was an impressive building. Built in the 1850s, the building had been one of the first to be constructed after the country had begun its drive towards a more efficient, westernised system of administration - a time period which had seen the grand councils of state separated from the confines of the Imperial Fortress and given their own premises. And this imposing structure was the dominion of Shehrbano Hazuri, the Grand Councillor for the Treasury. That post was a very senior post in the Imperial Government - some would argue perhaps second only to the Chancellor - and had often times provided many politicians with the kind of launching pad they needed to capture the Chancellorship for themselves. But given its high rank in the order of precedence, the choice of Shehrbano Hazuri was strange, given the fact that she was the only member of the Suleymani cabinet belonging to the fairer sex - a most unorthodox choice. But over the past five years, she had shown herself to be a sound minister, who had steered the Sikandari economy out of troubled waters.
That day, however, she had been joined by two of her colleagues, Shahrokh Husseini and Abdullah Tirmizi, the Grand Councillor for Petroleum and Natural Energy and the Grand Councillor for War, respectively. The three of them had met a week before the official visit from their counterparts from [MENTION=19]Längerland[/MENTION] had commenced to discuss the agenda and several advisory papers had been received by the three of them from other members of the Cabinet, to refine their view of the meetings. Based on seniority alone, Grand Councillor Hazuri had been chosen to lead the Sikandari delegation.
As the guests from Längerland had arrived, they had been greeted officially by the protocol officers and been brought to the conference chamber where the three Grand Councillors were seated. Grand Councillor Hazuri had spoken first, "Pleasure to meet you all. I hope your journey was pleasant," as she spoke, she did not extend her hand, as Sikandari women did not shake hands but rather gave a respectful nod in greeting others. The other two Grand Councillors did shake the hands of the visiting delegation. Once the formal pleasantries were finished, the ministers from both sides took their seats on either end of the conference table. Aides and translators were carefully positioned around the ministers. A silence descended over the room.
"Good morning," Hazuri, again, was the first to speak, "I welcome you all to Sikandara and hope that your visit so far has been agreeable. For the benefit of all present, let me state the agenda that we shall pursue. First, we shall discuss details of an oil agreement that will see Langerland receive a favourable rate on their purchases. Second, we shall discuss avenues of cooperation in the realm of trade cooperation. Third, we shall discuss the issue of military and defence cooperation. I welcome input from you all on the agenda for this meeting to help inform this discussion." She looked at the senior member of the delegation from the Germanic country to see what the other side would start with.