AIRCRAFT TAXIING: MOBUTU GREETED BY BONGO: MOBUTU AND BONGO INSPECTING GUARD OF HONOUR: MOBUTU AND BONGO INTO CAR AND AWAY FROM AIRPORT: BONGO SPEAKING AT RECEPTION: MOBUTU AND BONGO DRINK TOAST.




Initials JH/VS/DW/BB



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Background: PRESIDENT JOSEPH MOBUTU OF CONGO-KINSHASA ARRIVED IN LIBREVILLE ON SUNDAY (24 JANUARY) AT THE START OF A THREE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT, HIS FIRST EVER TO GABON. THE CONGOLESE PRESIDENT WAS GREETED AT THE AIRPORT BY PRESIDENT ALBERT BERNARD BONGO OF GABON.

IN A WELCOMING SPEECH, PRESIDENT BONGO SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS BETWEEN THE TWO STATES, "ALTHOUGH WE HAVE TAKEN DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS OVER THE NIGERIAN QUESTION". GABON RECOGNISED THE SECESSIONIST EASTERN REGION, WHILE CONGO-KINSHASA SUPPORTED THE FEDERALS.

PRESIDENT BONGO SAID HE WAS PREPARED TO OFFER HIS SERVICES IN IMPROVING RELATIONS BETWEEN CONGO-KINSHASA AND CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE. PRESIDENT MOBUTU HAS SAID HE IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO END HIS COUNTRY'S RIFT WITH NEIGHBOURING CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE.

ON MONDAY (26 JANUARY), THE TWO HEADS OF STATE ISSUED A JOINT COMMUNIQUE BEFORE PRESIDENT MOBUTU LEFT LIBREVILLE FOR LAGOS, THE NEXT STOP ON HIS II-DAY TOUR OF FIVE AFRICAN NATIONS. THE COMMUNIQUE SAID GABON AND CONGO KINSHASA HAD AGREED TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AT AMBASSADORIAL LEVEL.

THE COMMUNIQUE ADDED THAT THE TWO COUNTRIES WOULD FORGE DIRECT AIR AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS LINKS BETWEEN THEIR TWO CAPITALS.

IT SAID THE TWO HEADS OF STATE RECOGNISED THE NEED FOR GOOD-NEIGHBOURLY RELATIONS IN CENTRAL AFRICA.