A Ministerial Affair
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Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Unión Europea y Cooperación
Madrid, España
22nd March 2024With the Holy Week just around the corner, and loads of tourists preparing to disembark into Spain for their Easter Holidays, Esteban González Pons was busy in his office trying to leave everything addressed before the holidays began; so that he could leave to Valencia with his family. Nevertheless, he was surprised when just a few days before, a letter from California had arrived requesting a meeting. The Californians did not want the full "state visit package" though, and announced that only their Foreign Affairs Minister would visit Spain... and meet his Spanish counterpart, that is, González Pons.
The strangest part of the letter was that there were no reasons or discussion topics listed. Just a meeting request. "How strange...", Esteban thought when he finished reading the letter. When he ordered his secretary and the ministry workers to prepare for the summit, someone asked the Minister about what topics were going to be discussed. The Minister told them: «it is also unknown to me, ladies and gentlemen. Prepare for the unexpected, get every single point that the Californians might be interested in ready, so they will not catch us unprevented. I doubt they will put us in a compromising position, they are our neighbours and our relations are great. But get ready for anything».
The day had finally arrived, and Pons was waiting for the arrival of the Californians to finally find out what they had prepared for him...
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23 March/Marzo 2024
Madrid, EspañaForeign Affairs Minister Senator Penny Wong took the train, instead of flying, to Madrid. It was comparable to millions of Californians every Holy Week. She read through the notes the government and the information on Spain was glowing.
The train pulled in and an EV came to recieve her.
"Is this a Californian state vehicle...porque I could have drove..." she chuckled. "Ay...Dios." Once she got in, she was taken through the central part of Madrid. It was very different than Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco...caramba, all of it. They arrived at what could be assumed was the foreign Office. Penny got out and warmly greeted Mr. Pons.
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«Minister Wong, welcome to Spain», Esteban González Pons said while greeting the Californian Foreign Affairs Minister. They shook hands, mostly because even if it was typical in Spain to give two kisses (one per cheek) when greeting a woman, he did not know if the Californians did the same. People in Nofoaga did, and in Inquista... But Esteban did not want to take the risk.
Both then made their way to the office of the Minister: «As you can see, this is one of the ancient buildings that you can find in Madrid. The name it goes by is the Palacio de Santa Cruz, and it was built in the XVII Century. Quite old, right? Despite its age, it has held the headquarters of the Foreign Affairs Ministry only since 1938», Esteban said, to make their way more pleasant.
Finally, they arrived into the office, and both took a seat in a sofa. After Esteban had asked Senator Wong if she wanted anything else to drink apart from water, and they had been left alone, the summit could finally begin: «so tell me Ms. Wong, which are the affairs on the table today?»
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Penny looked at the Palacio; San Diego's Historic District had buildings like these but much smaller. "Wow, que bueno." She felt completely comfortable with how Sr. Pons gave her. She was a proudly out lesbian and knew the Spanish customs. After all, her wife's family was Spanish.
"According to my government, this shouldn't take long," she said. "Our Prime Minister made an FTA...I'm supposed to convey the want to host some defense exercises on La Isla Catalina."
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Esteban listened, and for a moment thought to himself that if a spoiler about the request of the Californian Government on the letter could have saved him some work. At least, he now was an expert on the Spanish-Californian relations, so there was that.
«Oh yeah, the Free Trade Agreement... Everything is working alright as long as we are concerned, but has California found anything wrong recently? And about those joint military exercises, I would like to ask if it would be the Spanish and Californian armies alone or if there would be any other guests. Also, bear in mind that I need to pass on the information to the Ministry of Defence, but we will surely take part».
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"Solamente nosotros," said Penny. "As for the trade agreement, it seems to be working well. The wine industry is a good example. Same with olive oil and the more exotic agricultural products. I think our educational exchange is working well; lots of Californian secondary students are taking the opportunity as have the Spanish tertiary students." She paused to look for any problems.
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«Perfect!», said Esteban, who rapidly sent the proposal of a joint training to Penny Mourdaunt, the Minister of Defence. While he awaited for an answer, he listened to what Penny had to say about the deal that the previous Government had done with the Californian Government, and then gave the Spanish point of view: «on our side, everything seems to be working alright too, Minister. We have no complaints about our several deals, and we hope that they keep working this well», said Esteban, smiling.
The answer from the Ministry of Defence arrived just after González Pons finished his sentence, and he communicated the news to the Californian Minister of Foreign Affairs: «I am glad to tell you that Minister Mourdaunt has announced the Ministry of Defence and the Army have accepted your proposal».
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"We understand this is a new Spanish government," stated Penny. "You're entitled to make changes if you see a need but we can confirm our satisfaction."
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«No need to change anything at all, we might be a different Government, but all in all, we are all members of the same political party», clarified the Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Minister. «Well, I think that is everything we had in the agenda today!», Esteban added, now that he knew what California wanted to discuss. «It has been a pleasure, Penny -Esteban decided to call the Minister by her first name, as they had got to know themselves way better throughout the summit- to have a nice chat with you. Anything California needs, just give me or any Government member a call. We are here to help our neighbour, and our relationship with California is considered prioritary», he said.
Esteban then shook hands with the Minister, and after both said goodbye at the entrance of the building, the Californian Minister left. González Pons then shew up at the press conference programmed after the meeting, and gave the details and the outlines of the summit. Another summit completed, and Esteban was finally on holidays.
The Kingdom of Spain