A Meeting in Abuja

[Mergerberger II]

Yayi Boni, President of the Union of Guinea, sat at his desk, alone, his hands upon his forehead in the typical stressed pose, eyes glued to the document he was reading. It was a struggle, this President thing, but he was beginning to grow used to it, and even beginning to enjoy it. 

 

His phone rang. Thankful for the break from the neverending droning of the language of this new bill, something about a new refinery in Lagos, he answered it. "I have the draft of the document to send to Sudan," a voice from the other side.

 

"Very well, send it over," the president said, and hung up the phone. A man walked in the door, laid the draft on the President's desk, and waited for the President to review it before sending it out.

 

[i]To: Chancellor Okot Samara of Sudan

From: President Yayi Boni of the Union of Guinea

Regarding: A Benefit to our Relations[/i]

 

My dear Chancellor,

 

I would like to invite you to come, or to send a representative to Abuja if you are too busy, to meet with me and my representatives in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja. Bring all that you require, and know that a room will be available in the Sudanese embassy, the Four Seasons Abuja, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, depending on what suits you most.

 

Best Regards,

President Yayi Boni of the Union of Guinea

 

The President handed it back to the man who brought it in, and gestured that it was okay for him to leave. He left, and the document would be delivered post-haste, while President Boni returned to reading about goat farmers.

[Uberstein]

A message would promptly be faxed back from Chancellor Samara's desk:

To: President Yayi Boni of the Union of Guinea
From: Chancellor Okot Samara of Sudan
Subject: Re: A Benefit to our Relations

President Boni,
It would be my pleasure to send an ambassador to the Union of Guinea. I must apologize for my inability to come personally, my schedule is incredibly busy. Please accept Ambassador Rasha Darzi in my stead.

Signed,
Chancellor Okot Samara of Sudan

Ms. Darzi would arrive via a Sudanese Air Force An-72, which also carried with it the rest of the staff for the embassy.

[Mergerberger II]

As the plane descended into Abuja International Airport, it would be met on the runway with Members of the Guinean Secret Service. They would escort Ms. Darzi to the embassy, whereupon she would be greeted at the entrance by the Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs, and escorted inside. After a tour of the building, they sat down in her new office to talk business.

 

"We are very much interested in your nation, Ms. Darzi, and wonder how we can best display the goodwill between our two nations. Perhaps a treaty, of some sort?"

[Uberstein]

During the tour, she would compliment the design of the building and make other small talk. It wasn't until they sat down in her office that her demeanor became more serious, "You don't waste any time, it seems. The Chancellor spoke to me before I left, and I'm happy to say that some kind of treaty is certainly something I can approve. If you don't mind me going slightly off topic, the Chancellor envisions a Africa which has close political and economic ties. A continent rich in both resources and culture which cannot simply stand and be exploited. His actions in Sudan have been focused around this ideal...the creation of a completely sovereign and united Sudan." She would pause for a moment before continuing, "Your own nation clearly has some similar ideals, with the input of tribal leaders. So I guess it is my turn to be forward, would Guinea be interested in an economic and defense agreement with Sudan?"

[Mergerberger II]

John Olympio, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Union, smiled at the mention that he didn't waste any time. "I find that our time on this earth is both short and precious," he said, "and personally, I intend to make the most of my short time in office." He smiled as he leaned forward and placed his folded hands on the desk.

 

"Indeed we seem to share similar ideals, especially those of equality, and we recognize that the tribal leaders have immense influence over their lands, and that is reflected by their status in the government. We favor the reunification of Sudan and indeed, the eventual unification of the entire African continent. A dream, perhaps, but we must all have something to strive for in the end. In my case, it is African Unity." He relaxed in his chair and placed his right ankle on his left knee. 

 

"We will give you support in your efforts to unify Sudan however we can. In return, we ask only that you agree to a freedom of trade deal. That is to say, no tariffs on Guinean goods, and no Guinean tariffs on Sudanese goods. In addition to this, we would like to request that our companies receive preferential treatment by your government, paying the same prices and taxes to your government as domestic corporations. This will promote economic development. We could also agree to limited military cooperation, in the form of an Optional Defense Pact.

 

"What are your thoughts, Madam?"

[Uberstein]

"A free trade deal makes sense to me, at least in terms of tariffs. However, companies from Guinea would likely be limited in their ability to set up within Sudan, simply due to the Secretariat's policy of nationalization. But, We are not completely opposed to the free market. There are plans for free-trade zones within the major cities, and I can certainly make sure that Guinean companies are given a preferential bid on leases once these become available. As for an Optional Defense Pact, I don't see any reason not too."

[Mergerberger II]

"That is agreeable. I will draw up a treaty, if you'll give me a few days." He got up, and as he stood up so did Ambassador Darzi, then he sat back down and opened his briefcase, inside of which there was a document. "Oops," he said, taking the document out of the briefcase, "forgot I had this," he said with a coy smile as Ambassador Darzi sat back down. "Why don't you take a look at it, send it to your government, and get back to me and my government when you have it all sorted out?"

 

The Treaty of the Sudanese Embassy

Article I: Nonaggression 
Both signatories will hereafter refrain from any form of hostile activity, hereafter defined as military force, internal subversion or espionage of any kind, against the other.

Article II: Conduct
Signatories of this pact pledge to show only respect and good will towards each other. While this will prohibit outright verbal hostility in all its forms, it will not restrict healthy debate or productive disagreement.

Article III: Assistance
If either signatory requests assistance in the form of military assistance, economic aid, or political intervention, it is strongly encouraged for the other signatory to provide what help it can, though both parties accept that this is not an obligation.

Article IV: Intelligence
Should vital knowledge of a political or military nature come to the attention of one signatory, they are required to share it with the other.

 

Article V: Free Trade

Both parties agree to not tariff, tax, or otherwise charge a fee for goods imported from the other nation. In addition, companies whose headquarters are in one nation shall be given preferential treatment over other nations'. 

Article V: Cancellation
It is the hope of both signatories that this pact may last forever, or until the bond it represents grows to the point where an upgrade is merited.  Given the uncertainties of the future, however, it is recognized that should any of the above Articles be violated, or should some major irreparable disagreement arise, that this pact maybe canceled after 1 month's notice.

 

"Obviously, the name is a work in progress," Olympio said as he smiled and handed the treaty to the Ambassador.

[Uberstein]

Ms. Darzi would carefully look over the treaty, "I'm sure the Chancellor will approve. It won't take long to send this, I'm sure my embassy staff have set up the basic equipment by now. Perhaps name like the Abuja-Khartoum Treaty or something along those lines."

 

Two days later, she had permission to sign the treaty.