GAUDIANO AIR FORCE BASE
MESSELIA, SARTORIA
"It's my pleasure." Said Mario as he shook hands with the Chancellor. "Please know that I convey the warmest welcome of President Leggièri and First Councillor Bonaventura. They are very much looking forward to meeting with you during your visit." He motioned to the ambassador and to the officials who were standing next to him. "I'm sure you are acquainted with Ambassador d'Orvon and with our very own Ambassador Mattarella; they have both work hard to ensure that this visit could take place. May I also introduce Senator Giulio Alamanni and Councillor Francesca Cardona, representatives of the Sartorian Parliament."
Mario was well acquainted with Alamanni and Cardona, of course. It was customary for the foreign affairs committees of both houses of Parliament to sent representatives to flight line ceremonies, a reminder that Sartoria had a parliamentary form of government. While state visits often had the attendance of the chairs of the Senate and House committees, official visits assigned the task to other members, and there was no doubt that Alamanni and Cardona were among the most qualified. Both retired Foreign Service officers, they were well known for their fierce defence of the Service in committee hearings and their hard work in securing adequate funding for the Foreign Office throughout the years. It was no surprise that the Office considered them among its strongest set of allies in Parliament.
Once the initial introductions were finished, Mario led the visitors and the welcoming committee as they walked past the military line until they approached the visitors' motorcade. There they stopped and turned to face the line, standing in attention as the anthems of Sartoria and Merovia were played. They exchanged bows again after the ceremony was finished, as the delegation prepared to depart for Casa Sciarra, the official guesthouse of the First Councillor.
"I look forward to our lunch tomorrow, Chancellor, and may I say again, welcome to Sartoria."
Mario waited until the motorcade had departed before heading back to the executive lounge to gather his briefcase and other effects. He had to return to Vilaró for various meetings before calling it an early day, or at least what passed for an early day when one was the Foreign Councillor: he would go home but would still read a few reports and answer calls before actually finishing his work. He did have to get as much sleep as he could before the following day's arrival ceremony.
Fun Fact:
Vilaró is the short name for the Antoni Vilaró Building, which houses the offices of the Foreign Office. Antoni Vilaró was a renowned diplomat and was the Foreign Councillor at the time of the First Contact. He led the push for establishing formal relations with Sorana and is widely credited for the consensus of peaceful interplanetary relations within Sartorian politics.