1.
GV: Africa Hall, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
0.06

2.
SV INTERIOR: Executive Secretary of ECA, Adebayo Adedeji, Chairman of Satellite Seminar, Mr. Edouard Boni, and Vice Chairman, Mr. Mohamed Habi.
0.10

3.
SV: Chairman's table PAN TO other delegates.
0.24

4.
SVs: delegates seated
0.45


The Seminar was under the auspices of the ECA, UNESCO, THE OAU, and the International Telecommunication Union. The basis for the feasibility study was set up after the ECA meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, in February last year. By May, 25 African member countries had indicated their support for such a study and preliminary investigations were carried out to be submitted at the Addis Abab meeting last week.




Initials RH/JR/PNG/1800



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A seminary has been held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, on the feasibility of a satellite communications system to cover Africa.

SYNOPSIS: The Conference opened at Africa House in Addis Abab with a statement from the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for africa -- the ECA - Mr. Adebayo Adedeji. He told the seminar that the African continent could not wait for conventional processes to effect the social changes needed to reduce mass unemployment and mass poverty.

Satellite communications system had to considered as a method of spreading information quickly on new methods in agriculture, technology, industry, and skills in other areas. Mr. Adedeji said a cost for such a system could be 109.2 million Dollars U.S. (over 65 million pounds sterling) Delays in starting planning would raise the cost.