The Sentinel

[Adwest]

THE SENTINEL
Premier news publication of the Grand Kingdom of Adwest

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Lord Protector Gore-Culross wraps up official visit to Arrenland with signing of MDT, other agreements



The Lord Protector speaking at a function hosted by the Adwestene Regional Chamber of Commerce's branch in Ealdburh.

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Article by Clive Kessel | Zechyr 1584 | Ealdburh, Arrenland

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The Lord Protector of Adwest, Count Neil Gore-Culross, wrapped up his 2-day official visit to the Kingdom of Arrenland today with the signing of several important bilateral agreements, most significant of which pertaining to defense cooperation between the two states.

The invitation to visit Arrenland was forwarded to the Lord Protector two months prior by the government of Chancellor Eadmund Dunstan, via diplomatic communication. The Lord Protector had immediately responded with his acceptance to the invitation.

The Lord Protector was accompanied by Foreign Minister Count Oswald Callaghan, Finance Minister Count Ulrich Leonard Picot, War Minister Sir Remismund Bletchley, and Commerce Minister Sir Ceil Wilkin. Also part of the delegation were representatives from several Adwestene corporations like the ISP Integrated Telecommunications Company and the retail conglomerate Westmart.

The Adwestene delegation headed by the Lord Protector landed in Ealdburh in the early afternoon of Zechyr 4. They immediately met with Chancellor Dunstan and his government, proceeding to a working lunch. The rest of the first day of the visit saw the Lord Protector meeting with business circles in the Arrenlander capital in order to promote further growth in Adwestene-Arrenlander trade and commerce.

The rest of the members of the Court were likewise engaged in other activities. The Foreign Minister Callaghan attended a symposium of  local graduate students and academicians in the field of International Relations, where he went as a guest speaker on the topic of "global civilization and cultural impacts on IR". On the other hand, the War Minister Bletchley visited a naval base outside of the capital and toured ships of the Royal Navy of Arrenland. He also held talks with Arrenlander naval officers.

The second day of the visit saw the beginning of official talks between the Lord Protector Gore-Culross and Chancellor Dunstan, alongside their respective officials. The closed-doors conference lasted throughout the afternoon, where issues of common concern were discussed.

A press conference was held after their talks. Lord Protector Gore-Culross praised the vision of the government of Dunstan with its mandate to strengthen Arrenland and seek its destiny as a major power. He has also affirmed Adwestene support in this endeavor as a mark of the strong relations between Adwest and Arrenland.

Chancellor Dunstan echoed this affirmation of strong ties and voiced support for Adwestene imperial restoration as a "rectification of history". He stated that closer cooperation between the two states would be beneficial for the advancement of their mutual interests of regional harmony vis-a-vis national empowerment.

The press conference was followed by a formal signing ceremony. The physical instruments of the Adwestene-Arrenlander Mutual Defense Treaty of 1584 were signed by and exchanged between the Arrenlander Defense Minister and the Adwestene War Minister. Meanwhile, treaties on foreign investment & currency swaps, fisheries cooperation, and business promotion were signed by and exchanged between the Arrenlander Trade Minister and the Adwestene Commerce Minister.

The content of these new bilateral pacts were reportedly already hashed out in communications between the two governments since Quartyr this year, particularly the mutual defense treaty, only being formalized with the meeting of Gore-Culross and Dunstan. The economic treaties, meanwhile, are expected to boost bilateral trade by 20% and FDI exchange by up to 40%. This makes Arrenland - which is Adwest's largest regional trade partner outside of the Kvaennan Economic Community - poised to become both a larger market for Adwestene exports and a larger source for Adwestene imports.

The Lord Protector leaves Arrenland in the morning of Zechyr 6, where he will then begin official visits to Solhaven, Sindar-Astrasia, and Goldecia before returning to Balfonheim. It is reported that before the conclusion of today's events that the Lord Protector personally handed a letter of invitation penned by Queen Sophia I to Chancellor Dunstan, to be given to Arrenlander monarch King Ioannes.


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