Georges Haushalter, the CIVB's president, says there was a great deal of preparation to make sure Bordeaux was ready for the developing market.

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The chancellor also managed to sound slightly presumptuous when he revealed his plan to make a near-regal progress through Britain over the next 12 months in preparation for power.

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In preparation for the meeting, construction workers built an elevated floor to make a level surface and covered the windows so no one could get a glimpse of the meeting.

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