NationStates Jolt Archive

Shortly after the announcement of the reopening of the Monavian Embassy Exchange, a diplomatic mesage was sent to Chalcedon from the Republic of Novus Prosperitas. In it, a desire to extend diplomatic ties and friendship to Monavia was expressed. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was busy as usual, though a meeting of the Monavian Foreign Relations Council was soon to be in session.

That morning, Council Chairman Robert D. Farrington entered the chamber, and, as usual, opened the meeting with its usual ceremony. He called the meeting to order, and proceeded with the day's business. On the agenda was a motion to recommend a summit between Novus Prosperitas and Monavia. Thye voted in favor of the measure unanimously, and the proposal was on Mr. Carter's desk in the afternoon.

He soon prepared to send a message, pending formal approval by the monarchy. Later that day, arounf 5:00, he sent the following message to Novus Prosperitas.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/1/149955/Flag%20of%20Monavia2.png

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION

OFFICE OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

To the Honourable Melissa Aurelia, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Republic of Novus Prosperitas,

Madam Secretary:

I have been honored yet again, in space of a few short years, by the wishes of foreign governments to form new diplomatic ties. Ever since the new Embassy Exchange Program was opened up nearly two years ago, a new age of growth and prosperity has dawned across the region.

Your proposal to send a diplomatic delegation to Chalcedon to discuss possible new diplomatic relations has been received quite warmly by officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and thus, to that end, the proposal has been accepted.

Therefore, with confidence in your goodwill and friendship, I extend an invitation to you and representatives of yuor government to journey to Chalcedon to open up the aforementioned dialogue.

Sincerely,

The Right Honorable Frank Carter, Minister of Foreign Affairs

http://www.nswiki.net/images/Np_coa.png

Official communiqué to the State of Monavia

"The Prosperitan Government graciously accepts the offer extended by the Right Honourable Frank Carter for Foreign Secretary Doctor the Honourable Aurelia to visit Chalcedon with the purpose of forming new diplomatic ties.

However, due to certain domestic circumstances (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=14475213#post14475213), Dr Aurelia is no longer able to visit Monavia at an early date. Nevertheless, it is hoped that Dr Aurelia will have the opportunity to journey to Chalcedon in the near future. In the mean-time, Mister Denis Hoyer Booth, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Head of the Diplomatic Service, is to attend the proposed summit in Dr Aurelia's place. Mr Booth is proud to be representing his country in Chalcedon.

Mr Booth will depart Securitas at the earliest possible date."

- Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The information provided in the official message from the Prosperitan Ministry of Foreign Affairs was a source of both disappointment and consolation to Mr. Carter. He was not pleased to hear that the woman who he had invited for the summit had been unable to attend, yet he saw no reason to continue with his frustration, as a suitable replacement underneath Secretary Aurelia was coming in her stead.

He soon sent the following letter to the Republic's Foreign Ministry.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/1/149955/Flag%20of%20Monavia2.png

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION

OFFICE OF THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

To the appropriate official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Novus Prosperitas,

Dear sir or madam:

Because of any current circumstances which prevent Secretary Aurelia from attending, I accept the arrival of Mr. Booth in her place. He will be welcomed at Stehpen Mayfield International Airport in Chalcedon upon his arrival.

Sincerely,

The Right Honorable Frank Carter, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Enclosed with the letter was several documents which contained information of how to locate Chalcedon and a map of Monavia and the Nova region.

From: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
To: The Right Honourable Frank Carter, Minister of Foreign Affairs (Monavia)
Subject: Official visit

Dear Mr Carter,

This communication is to acknowledge the receipt of your correspondence dated 6 February 2009, and is to advise you that the Permanent Under Secretary's visit to Chalcedon has been confirmed. Mr Booth will depart on a military flight this evening.

Sincerely,

Hannah Kopec
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

***

A Novus Prosperitan Air Force Vickers VC-10 was commissioned to transport the Permanent Under Secretary and his entourage to Chalcedon. The long-bodied aircraft was gray and bore the distinctive NPAF roundel - a circular symbol that composed the colours of the Republic's national flag. The aging aircraft, though well-maintained, would surely have been considered obsolete by most other nations. Nevertheless, it was considered more than sufficient for use by the Prosperitan Defence Force, and IN PARTICULAR for transporting government VIPs around the world. She had been specifically designed by the Prosperitans' (former) colonial masters for high subsonic speeds and was capable of operating in very warm climates and at very high elevations.

The Permanent Under Secretary was an athletic man in his late forties. A career civil servant, Mr Booth had spent much of his professional life in the diplomatic service. Over the years he had experienced first-hand (having helped to implement) Novus Prosperitas' radical shift from isolationism to internationalism and was widely considered one of the country's most eminent diplomat, well respected by politicians from both sides of the political spectrum. Thus Secretary Aurelia had full confidence in him and would go so far as to say that Booth was better suited to the task of opening diplomatic relations with Monavia than she herself was.

As his plane left Prosperitan airspace, Booth adjusted his reading glasses on his head and began reading the briefing documents on his lap. In a seat opposite him his personal assistant napped.

Based upon the information about the distance between Novus Prosperitas and Monavia, it would be several hours, if not until late in the morning, until Booth arrived. Meanwhile, the Cabinet Chamber within the palace was being recleaned and arranged for a diplomatic meeting.

Mr. Carter departed his place of work late in the evening that Booth was to leave in order to inspect the condition of the room. After passing through the elaborately carved oak doors of the chamber, he began giving a set of directions, before departing for his mansion to eat dinner.

The next morning, several completed legislative measures were sent to the private offices of the monarchs for approval. They were soon decided, with a few of them receiving approval, and the rest being sent back with a list of objections for redrafting.

Mr. Carter soon arrived at the airport at 7:30 A.M. to receive the guests. With him was a detatchment of the Royal Guard and several other officials, including Chancellor Hanover and, as usual for these events, the king and queen.

The group was carefully attired according to white standards, and was attended by several valets. The gate had ben partly blocked off with poles and ropes, so that people would be kept at an appropriate distance and reporters would not be able to get too close and impede the free movement of the individuals arriving or departing.

Chalcedon, Monavia

As the VC-10 broke through the clouds, Booth looked down on Chalcedon through his small porthole window. Not a great deal was known about the country below, just some basic information contained in a factbook compiled by the ministry and less reliable Intelligence reports. From what he could assess, Booth believed Monavian government society were not radically different from Novus Prosperitas' own. It was, at the very least, a civilised and highly developed state.

The aircraft identified itself to air traffic control and received permission to land. The VC-10 circled once before reducing its speed and descending. Moments later, they were safely on the runway. Booth, his personal assistant Ms Kopec, two junior diplomatic staff and a photographer from the Ministry of Information disembarked. The Prosperitan delegation looked jet-lagged and bewildered - far from prepared for an official reception.

Airport officials soon directed the plane to the government terminal, where it was docked with the gate ramp. The doors at the end were opened by two airport staff, who were to continue on with their other duties until the delegation was in the gate with their personal luggage.

As the delegation proceeded into the gate, they were greeted by the sight of a lengthy red carpet, trimmed with several colors of tassels at either end, and embroidered with a simple pattern of flowers and rosettes along the middle. Running parallel to the carpet, fifteen feet away from either side, were a row of carved wooden poles, between which were strung low ropes, much like the barriers used to form queue lines at banks and restaurants.

Reporters and journalists lined the barriers on either side, pointing cameras and microphones in the direction of the incoming delegation. At the end were several more, taking photographs of the arriving Prosperitans and their staff.

Closes to the entrance stood Mr. Carter, bedecked with an ornate golgen collar, studded with jewels. He wore it on certain state occasions, this being one of them, and in addition to his amethyst lapel pin, he appeared as if he was posing for an official portrait. He concentrated his gaze upon the faces of those who he was about to meet.

Behind him was the royal couple, also standing to face their guests, and further behind was Chancellor Hanover, who was somewhat relieved to attend the arrival of a foreign delegation instead of attend to legislative matters. A pair of valets stood near him, waiting to carry the baggage that the delegation was burdened with, and several other people were present, who need not be enumerated here.

"Thank you, thank you. It is a momentous occasion. I can feel the hand of history on my shoulder..." Booth cringed as camera bulbs flashed in his face and the questions kept coming. Hannah Kopec, a tall and slender woman with long black hair and an olive skin complexion strode beside him. The others followed closely behind and they continued up the carpet, towards the man who Booth presumed was Mr Carter. He noted his ceremonial attire.The Permanent Secretary's own double breasted gray business suit felt insufficient. In the background were a couple he suspected of being the monarchs. Booth was suddenly feeling uneasy. The amount of attention he and his colleagues were receiving had of course been expected. But having slept little during his flight and feeling out of place, Booth did not consider it very welcome. Neverthess, he did his best to be a dignified guest. He happened to take his role as the country's ambassador very seriously indeed. As they reached the end of the carpet and stood face to face with Carter, Booth bowed to the Monavian foreign minister.

"I presume that you are Ambassador Booth, sir. It is my honor to finally meet you." Mr. Carter then shook Booth's hand and those of his colleagues. He then directed them farter down the carpet, while he walked toward the royal couple and the chancellor.

More cameras flashed to record certain moments, but the barrage had considerably died down until Booth reached the king and queen.

Bump. Let's get this show on the road!

Another bump to grace this thread.

Bump again!!!!

The fourth bump.

Thus far, this is the fifth bump.

I present the sixth bump. Whatever happened to the conference?

This qualifies as the seventh bump.