HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY AND WIFE; HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY SHOWN AROUND TEXTILE FACTORY; PRESIDENT'S BOAT THROUGH WATER; PRESIDENT MOBUTU AND HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY AT RAILING; PATROL BOAT.




Initials JH/VS/BOB/PC



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Background: PRESIDENT FELIX HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY OF IVORY COAST LAST SATURDAY (1 FEBRUARY) VISITED A TEXTILE PLANT IN KINSHASA. HE ALSO MET PRESIDENT JOSEPH MOBUTU OF CONGO-KINSHASA ON THE PRESIDENTIAL BOAT. PRESIDENT HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY WAS EXTENDING HIS STAY IN KINSHASA AFTER ATTENDING LAST WEEK'S SUMMIT MEETING OF THE AFRO-MALAGASY COMMON ORGANISATION (OCAM).

DURING HIS VISIT TO THE TEXTILE PLANT, PRESIDENT HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY, ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE, TOURED THE FACTORY AND THE SITE AND SAW THE MACHINES IN OPERATION.

LATER, PRESIDENT HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY MET PRESIDENT MOBUTU ABOARD THE PRESIDENTIAL BOAT, THE "JOSEPH MOBUTU".

THE IVORY COAST PRESIDENT LEFT KINSHASA FOR HOME TODAY (MONDAY), AT THE END OF HIS EXTENDED SEMI-OFFICIAL VISIT. HE WAS THE LAST OF NINE HEADS OF STATE WHO ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE TO LEAVE KINSHASA.

THE PRESIDENT PROMISED YESTERDAY TO PAY AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO CONGO-KINSHASA BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.

THE THREE-DAY OCAM SUMMIT ENDED LAST WEEK WITH PROGRESS TOWARDS A SETTLEMENT BETWEEN THE DISPUTING NATIONS INVOLVED IN THE CONFERENCE. CONGO-KINSHASA, CHAD AND THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AGREED TO NORMALISE RELATIONS BETWEEN THEM. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE THREE COUNTRIES WOULD START TALKS ON RENEWING FULL DIPLOMATIC LINKS. A FURTHER OUTCOME OF THE SUMMIT WAS THAT CONGO-KINSHASA AND CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTORE RELATIONS BETWEEN THEM IN ECONOMIC, TRANSPORT AND OTHER FIELDS.

IN AN INTERVIEW, PRESIDENT MOBUTU SAID LATER THAT THE CONFERENCE HAD BEEN A SUCCESS BECAUSE IT HAD SUCCEEDED IN BRINGING BACK PEACE TO CENTRAL AFRICA.

PRESIDENT HAMANI DIORI OF NIGER WAS APPOINTED TO ANOTHER TERM AS OCAM'S PRESIDENT.