[Norway] Phone Call to Sweden + Diplomacy

[Odinson]

Leif Holt, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway, placed an encrypted phone call to the Stefan Löfven, Prime Minister of Sweden. The call was some time in the afternoon. Leif was in his office in the Storting Building.

 

[Odinson]

@Connor

 

[Connor]

The Secretary to the Office of the Prime Minister would forward the line direct to Prime Minister Stefan Löfven - the call encrypted and secured as standard protocol.

“Good Afternoon, Prime Minister Löfven speaking”

 

[Odinson]

"This is Leif Holt, Prime Minister of Norway. I hope you are well this afternoon, Mister Löfven? I was hoping that we could have a meeting sometime soon so that we could establish diplomatic relations between Norway and Sweden." Leif sipped on hot tea as he spoke to the foreign head of government from his office.
@Connor

 

[Connor]

“Sir, I have to say it’s a pleasure to have a call from you, Sweden’s next door neighbour! We absolutely are well overdue a meeting in order to begin the bilateral friendship necessary to keep Scandinavia running smoothly... I must ask... How are you coping with the temperature at the moment, I hear you’ve been hit much harder than Sweden?”

 

[Odinson]

The Prime Minister thought for a few moments before he spoke. "Yes... That is why we did not contact you sooner. We aren't sure yet, but we think that close to one-thousand people have died as a result of the weather... Power has been restored to southern Norway, and the military is in the streets, handing out food and supplies to those in need. I've been told by the Norwegian Polar Institute that temperatures will only go up from this point, so it seems the worst is now behind us. I hope that your government and people are coping well?"
@Connor

 

[Connor]

Stefan nods his head behind the phone, understanding the Norwegian counterpart...

"I understand, I understand... I send me condolences for the families and friends of those lost as a result of this unbearable climate. I'm glad to hear that you've managed to make use of your armed forces in order to develop rapport and safety to those in dire need, if there's any way Sweden can be of assistance please do not hesitate to ask. We have largely retained power throughout Sweden with pockets of outages in villages and small towns - there is an outcry for support from central government whilst our local government counterparts are beginning to send requests for aid - something the committee is planning to discuss in Riksdag tomorrow. We plan to have small generators and ration packs sent to these locations to ensure we do not lose anyone as a result of this storm. I have to admit Prime Minister, we aren't prepared for this!"

@Odinson

 

[Odinson]

"We had emergency generators at the Storting Building and the Royal Palace. It go so cold here in Oslo that the Arctic-grade diesel in the generators froze. While the worst is behind us, I recommend that you do not underestimate this weather. If you need any assistance from Norway's armed forces, please let me know - we'd be happy to help. Anyway, I need to get back to the Storting soon. Would you be available to get lunch tomorrow? It doesn't have to be anything formal - either I can come to Stockholm, or I'd be happy to host you here in Oslo."
@Connor

 

[Connor]

"Thank you Prime Minister, this is something I'll certainly keep in mind pending the outcome of Riksdag. I cannot express enough how much I appreciate the offer."

Stefan quickly scrolls through his electronic calendar on the computer infront of him, sat immaculately on his desk.

"I can be in Norway for 13:00, where do you wish to meet? It'd be nice to see the outside of my office walls for once!"

@Odinson

 

[Odinson]

"If you fly to Oslo International Airport, I'll meet you there and we'll head somewhere to eat. Make sure you dress warm, Mister Löfven. I'm looking forward to meeting you."

 

[Connor]

"Excellent, I'll have my team contact you once we land... Prime Minister it's been a pleasure to speak to you, please enjoy the rest of your day. I will see you tomorrow afternoon for lunch!"

Stefan eagerly awaits the response from Prime Minister Leif Holt whilst entering the appointment into his electronic diary.

 

[Odinson]

"I look forward to meeting you as well. Goodbye." Leif hung up the phone.

The Office of The Prime Minister forwarded details to the Swedish government and gave a more precise time for them to arrive. Waiting at the airport was Leif along with some diplomatic staff and Royal Police Officers who were assigned to protect the two heads of government. Once Stefan was on the tarmac, Leif shook his hand, "Welcome to Norway, Mister Löfven. It's nice to meet you."

@Connor

 

[Connor]

The Prime Minister, his secretary and a single Swedish Police Officer would board a chartered flight to Norway and with use of the information provided would land and make his way through the terminal. The police officer would purely serve as initial security to the delegation for the duration of the flight and as a security point of contact throughout the day.

The Prime Minister extends his hand and shakes firmly with Leif.

“Prime Minister, it’s a pleasure to be here in this gorgeous country! Are you well?”

Stefan ensures he shakes the hand of the rest of the delegation, including the officers protecting them, before returning to the Prime Minister.

 

[Odinson]

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Prime Minister. Thank you for coming. I am well, how are you?" said Mister Holt. He shook Stefan's hand and motioned him towards their motorcade. With Leif was the Royal Police, who would be escorting them for lunch.

"I hope you're alright with seafood? We're going to head over to one of the King's favorite restaurants, he's being telling me to try it out." Once they were inside he said, "It's called 'Restaurant Fjord'. They're high class, which normally isn't a good thing, but I hear it's actually pretty good. We'll probably be there in twenty minutes. So, are things going alright? I hear that the Baltic is finally melting."

The motorcade was off with the armed Royal Police who were keeping a careful eye around the motorcade. Restaurant Fjord already had a private table prepared for the two heads of government.

 

[Connor]

"I am feeling great, thank you" Stefan smiles, walking directly to the motorcade waiting for him and taking a seat.

"Oh yes, seafood sounds fantastic, I suppose we'll both find out how reliable the King's recommendations are then...!" Stefan laughs gently, making it clear it was light-hearted humour. "Yes things are going well... we've noticed a slight reduction in ice in and around the Baltic Sea - I'm hoping that the ice does reduce significantly so we can start to bring traffic back into the area. Sweden as a whole is struggling in terms of the power-grid which hasn't stood up to this big freeze, certainly an area we're going to look at investing into in the coming months, probably once this temperature passes."

"How are you doing here? I really hope you haven't lost anymore lives overnight?"

@Odinson

 

[Connor]

@Odinson

 

[Odinson]

They were both seated at a table and asked what they wanted to drink. Some fresh French bread was brought out for them to enjoy while they decided what they wanted to eat. "Some private individuals actually restored power to southern Norway... The public doesn't know about that, however. I haven't decided if the police should arrest them or not, but I think we're definitely going to have to investigate what they did. That's just between you and me, though."

"Things aren't as bad as they were a week or so ago. Many Norwegians are still very much uncomfortable, but I don't think anyone is dying from the weather. Thank God things are warming up again... we wouldn't have lasted much longer at -50 degrees..."

Leif broke off a piece of bread and dipped it in some olive oil before taking a bite. He looked over the menu, and was immediately drawn towards the fried cod, but knew his wife would lambast him for it later, so he chose the grilled shrimp.

"I'm not sure how much you know about it, but what can you tell me about the company Storhet Auktioner? I heard they were causing a ruckus with First Choice International."

 

[Connor]

"Naturally, I can see the worry in the abstraction of electricity, it's not necessarily a legal issue but a public safety issue... if there's any assistance I can provide in your situation please let me know; you offered your support with Sweden and I'm more than happy to provide what you need to help with Norwegian issues."

Stefan smiles before ordering a glass of lemon water and taking French bread.

"Yes, we're working towards better security in the Baltic Sea following the freeze, martime safety is a priority for us at the moment"

"I have to be honest with you, I don't know a lot about Storhet Auktioner, I was only made aware of the situation with them and FCI as a result of potential national security issues... I haven't heard anything since their initial confrontation with FCI, I think the focus has definitely moved onto France's ban although I'm trying to keep government well out of the way to prevent conflict of interest. Storhet is a private entity and it's very important we keep a divide between the state and private debates/negotiation. We'll step in when necessary, have you heard anything I should be aware of?"

@Odinson

 

[Odinson]

"I just wanted to make sure that this was a purely private dispute between a corporation and FCI and France. I'm happy that you just confirmed that," he said with a smile as he took a sip from his own water. "Anyway, I'm happy that you were able to make the time to come meet with me today. Can you tell me exactly what plans your government has for Sweden? Do you have any major foreign policy objectives? If you don't mind me asking - is Sweden looking to have more of a defensive or offensive armed forces? If there is anything that we have noticed, it's of course the growing size of the Swedish Navy which I would say is something to make Norway envious."

Their entrees were brought out and cooked to perfection.

 

[Connor]

“Absolutely, naturally this isn’t something my government will be getting involved with. The French ban is naturally of concern as it may have an effect on other Swedish trade in the region so I am aware of work being prepared to rectify this with localised agreements in order to preserve the reputation and existence of thousands of Swedish jobs. In general the dispute between the three is a civil argument which domestic judicial systems can deal with should it get to that stage...”

Stefan smiles at the Norwegian Prime Minister, nodding his head as he takes a sip of his water.

“Honestly it’s my pleasure to be here, relations between us are well overdue and I respect the fact you took the first step in correcting that void”

“My government are certainly working towards reunification of Sweden, including Gotland” Stefan throw his hands up, chuckling “that absolutely does not mean we’re going to invade the British - many jump to military action when the word ‘reunification’ is mentioned but that is definitely not the case! The Baltic Sea is in dire need of direction and management, something I intend to involve Norway and other Baltic nations in - this is certainly another objective of my government, hence the recent establishment of SAR capability within the Swedish Air Force”

“The Swedish Armed Forces we’re lacking in all honesty, we want to be able to provide support for Scandinavia as a whole as well as showing a clear standard within Sweden... the safety and security of all those wthin Sweden is of paramount concern really and rightly so. It may sound like I’m giving you the stereotypical party political broadcasts but these are genuine concerns and focus areas at the moment, cliche but honest. Naturally every government wants the ability to do more than just defend but I don’t intend to do this with vast amount of personnel and rediculous amounts of equipment, it’s a project and vision I intend to recreate with the likes of intelligence and cooperation agreements, friends, partners and allies. I’m trying to project the image that Sweden is not out to tread on any toes here.”

The enteees are greeted by Stefan, starving and looking forward to the meal “We’ll it has to be said, looks like the king was right?”

“Anyway, yes, you’re right. At the moment the Swedish Navy has exploded into a strong, versatile and above all rise malluable force which I absolutely intend to replicate across the other branches however it’s an expensive task and I refuse to put my government under the thumb of a loan company where our interest rates will forwever soar, it isn’t my money being spent after all, it’s the tax payer. I don’t thibk the tax payer would want millions, potentially billions, of dollars spent on interest to foreign private organisations so we will continue to expand at each tax period when the money of the hardworking goes towards the essential”

Stefan leans back in his chair after speaking glancing across the steaming food.

“But enough about me and my government. Tell me about Norway as I have to be honest I know almost nothing about my neighbours agenda. Is the sudden growth of Russia of any concern to you? Where do you see Norway being in years to come?”

@Odinson