United States Secretary of Stat Dr. Henry Kissinger held talks with the Presidents of France and Ivory coast in Paris on Friday (7 May) about his African tour.

The talks followed the release of a comminque by Ivory coast President Felix Houphouet-Boigny and French President Valery Giscard D'Estaing calling for a swift progress towards self-rule in Southwest Africa (Namibia).

Dr. Kissinger, who met President Houphouet-Biogny for one hour following his 90-minute breakfast session with President Gidscard, said the U.S. would "cooperate with its friends in Africa to bring about the aspirations of the African nations, together with the European nations that are prepared to do so".

Mr. Houphouet-Biogny, who has just finished an official visit to France, is the most fervent supporter among Black African leaders of dialogue rather than confrontation with the South African government.

Dr. Kissinger, who has just completed his first African tour, flew to France from Nairobi with a stopover in Crete. His statement about U.S. aid to third world countries at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) received a lukewarm reception in Kenya.

Dr. Kissinger told journalists he had given the French leader his impressions of his african tour. The two leaders also reviewed the situation in Lebanon in some detail, but Dr. Kissinger said they had not gone into precise projects. Dr. Kissinger said he discussed with President Giscard the French leaders forthcoming state visit to the U.S. from 17 to 22 May and stressed the importance which the U.S. administration attaches to French views.