1.
GV EXT Africa Hall
0.03

2.
GV PAN INT Delegates seated
0.17

3.
SV & CU Chairman speaking (3 shots)
0.22

4.
CU Burundi delegate
0.27

5.
CU Cameroon do.
0.31

6.
SCU Tanzanian do.
0.35

7.
CU Ugandan do.
0.39

8.
CU Swaziland do.
0.42

9.
SCU Ethiopian delegates
0.45

10.
SV Egyptian delegates
0.48

11.
SCU Moroccan delegates
0.51

12.
CU PAN Ghanaian delegates
0.56

13.
CU PAN Nigerian delegate
1.02

14.
CU Senegalese delegate
1.07

15.
SCU Togo delegates
1.10

16.
SCU Zambian delegates
1.14

17.
SV OAU delegates
1.16



Initials BB/2206 JS/MRBB/2223



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The ninth meeting of the Executive Committee of the Economic Commission for Africa opened in Addis Ababa on Monday (18 June).

Among the main topics on the committee's agenda are the drought in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Africa; measures needed to help Zambia's economy following Rhodesia's action in closing the border between the two countries earlier this year; and preparations for negotiations on trade, finance and monetary matters.

The drought is the worst this century in a belt of Africa south of the Sahara and the ECA's Executive-Secretary, Mr. Robert Gardiner, was scheduled to report on measures taken so far to assist the countries concerned.

In February, at the eleventh meeting of the ECA in Accra, the ECA ministers asked the Executive to ask for international aid because the countries themselves could not deal with the problem. The governments concerned declared the Sudeno-Sahelian Zone a disaster area and established a Permanent Inter-State Co-Ordaining Committee based in Ouagadougou to oversee all drought relief measures.

As far as Zambia is concerned, the ECA's Economic and Social Council, meeting at the end of last month, commenced the Zambian government on its decision to sever economic and trade relations with Rhodesia and called for all possible help to Zambia to enable it to carry out its policy of economic independence form Rhodesia.

Other matters being raised at the Executive Committee meeting include the African Regional Plan for the Application of Science and Technology to development and setting up sub-regional offices of the ECA.