Visitor From the Island Raj

[Khalistan]

Foreign Ministry
Lahore, Khalistan

Foreign Minister Rasgun Singh Multani is going over the last information available on the island kingdom of Butuan. Though Khalistan and Butuan have had contact for over two centuries, it has been though non diplomatic channels, mostly via the Mayalanders. Now, the Maharaja wants formal and direct diplomatic relations to be established as well as trade and travel agreements.

Multani puts down the report when the phone rings, answering it, the Foreign Minister is informed the Butuanese plane has landed and that the Foreign Minister, Rajkumar Salamat Lakandula, will be arriving at the ministry soon.

 

[Butuan]

Rājkumār Salamat Lakandula, or, Prince Salamat as English speakers refer to him as, has served as Foreign Minister of his father, Rajah Sulaiman II, for nearly ten years and in all that time, he has been out of the country a total of eight times, and all of those were to Mayaland. It wasn't like Salamat was not capable to conduct foreign relations, it was just that most nations, did not consider Butuan worth dealing with much beyond what an ambassador or consul could achieve. It seems now, at least in the eyes of the Khalistanis, that had changed.

"Foreign Minister Multani, it is a great pleasure to finally meet you, as it is to be here in Lahore. Though it would be nice to get to see a little bit of the sights of your beautiful city, my time is short, and unless you object, I would like to get started."

"Minister, my country, as a island nation, needs to open trade up trade with mainland countries, and with the similar histories of both our nation, our experiences with the Mayalanders in particular, establishing closer diplomatic and economic ties would be a logical course of action. Therefore I am here to propose both the exchange of diplomatic mission, but also trade delegations so that Butuan might again access to Khalistan's agriculture and manufacturing sectors as well as natural resources that your country is willing to deal in."

 

[Khalistan]

"Well, Your Highness, establishing formal diplomatic relations as well as trade with Butuan is something Khalistan is very much interested in. Khalistan is willing to open up our markets to Butuan products if such will be done by your government for ours. We are also quite willing to sell Butuan agricultural products at fair market prices."

 

[Butuan]

"I am pleased that we can agree to such an arrangement. As one of Butuan's nearest neighbors, we are glad that friendly relations can be established."

Taking a sip of water, Prince Salamat continues onto a different subject.

"There is something more I wish to discuss with you. As you may know, Butuan has long suffered, first from seperatist attempts by muslim militant groups, and more recently, communist insurrectionist on our southern island of Malabang. Though I am not asking for any support in the way of troops or equipment, I do wish to request diplomatic support in our fight against these guerllias who are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Butuanese and will be responsible for hundreds if not thousands more before the bloody business is over. I am hoping that Khalistan can extend diplomatic support for our cause."

 

[Khalistan]

"Of course you have our diplomatic support in this matter. The Maharaja and his government has little sympathy with the communist movement nor with the muslim militant as we have had our trouble with them ourselves. Khalistan will extend such diplomatic support to Butuan and will even go one step further and pass onto the Butuan government any intelligence we may gather concerning communist, or even militant islamic, operations that is directed towards Butuan or in support of the insurrection in Malabang."

 

[Butuan]

"I am pleased again that Khalistan will be supportive, diplomatically, in our struggle against both communism and militant Islam. With that said, I would like to broach the subject of travel between our countries. I would like such travel to be as hassle free as possible, but of course, due to the world being the way it is, hassle is the rule rather than the exception, but let us begin with opening our airports to flights between our countries, allowing each of our countries' airlines access to the other's airports. This can also be done shipping, with the opening of port access."

 

[Khalistan]

"The opening up of ports and airports for travel between our countries can be easily arranged. Mentioning ports and airports, as civilian travel would be made easier, I would like to talk about the possibility of Khalistan naval and air assets may have access. Not to be stationed there, but as a way point for refueling where it comes to aircraft and for resupply and port-o-call for naval vessels. Of course, this would be a peacetime arrangement."

 

[Butuan]

"As long as it is, at least for now, peacetime military traffic, it should be fine with my government, on the condition that proper compensation for the use of our facilities and services are made."

 

[Khalistan]

"Of course, such compensations would be made, in fact the Defence Ministry would like to negotiate contracts with Butuan companies for use of those facilities and services."