1.
GV Ministry of Finance building in Abidjan and sign (2 shots)
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2.
SV INT Ivory Coast Minister of Economics, M. Bedie is greeted on arrival (2 shots)
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SCU Portrait of President Houphouet Boigny
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GV Delegates seated
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5.
SV M. Bedie signs for Ivory Coast.
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SV M. Bureau signs for COWAC (2 shots)
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SV M. Desneufbourg signs on behalf of OTRAMA
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SCU M. Bureau addresses meeting and delegates applaud (3 shots)
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SV Minister Bedie and other two signatories rise after meeting
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FINANCE MINISTRY BUILDING: IVORIAN FINANCE MINISTER BEDIE ARRIVING, SEATED AND SIGNING AGREEMENT: M. BUREAU SIGNING FOR COWAC AND M. DESNEUFBOURG FOR OTRAMA: DELEGATES AFTER SIGNING.




Initials BB/1300 LD/AW/BB/1330



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A one-year agreement was signed in Abidjan on Wednesday (November 7) providing for continual consultations between the Ivory Coast and the two major shipping organisations serving the coast of West Africa -- OTRAMA (The Organisation for Mediterranean Traffic to West Africa) and COWAC (Conference of the West Coast of Africa).

The agreement--signed by Ivorian Minister of Economy and Finance Henri Konan Bedia--is the result of nearly two years of negotiations between the Ivory Coast and the organisations which represent' shipowners from Britain, France, Ghana, holland, Italy, Nigeria, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and West Germany. Signatories for COWAC and OTRAMA respectively were M. Bureau and M. Desneufbourg.

SYNOPSIS: At the Ministry of Finance and Economy in Abidjan on Wednesday, she signing of an important shipping agreement. The Ivory Coast was represented by Finance and Economy Minister Henri Konan Bedie--here seen arriving.

The agreement was the result of two years of negotiations, between the Ivory Coast and the two major shipping organisations serving the coast of West Africa from mauritania to Angola.

Representing the Conference for the West Coast of Africa--COWAC--Monsieur Bureau, here signing the agreement providing for regular consultations between all signatories.

Monsieur Desneufbourg, signed for OTERAMA--the Organisation for Mediterranean Traffic to West Africa. The two shipping organisations present shipowners from Britain, France, Ghana, Holland, Italy, Nigeria, Norway, Sweden, Seitzerland and West Germany.

After the signing, a communique said that all decisions taken by the two organisations, will take into consideration the interests of all parties.