1.
GV Port of Diego Suarez
0.05

2.
LV PAN Cargo and naval ships in harbour
0.10

3.
SV PAN & CU EXT Naval base
0.15

4.
CU & SV Sign "Military territory" and barbed wire (2 shots)
0.22

5.
LV Harbour
0.24

6.
GV PAN FROM Sunken ship to ships in harbour
0.27

7.
GV Naval vessels in harbour
0.32

8.
LV Town of Diego-Suarez
0.35

9.
SV Sailors walking in town PAN TO building
0.45

10.
SV Sign on building "Telecommunications"
0.48

11.
LV Town hall
0.50

12.
LV & SV PAN French soldiers pass by on lorries
1.01

13.
SV PAN & CU People in market (2 shots)
1.10

14.
LV PAN National Assembly building in Tananarive
1.17

15.
LV & CU EXT National Assembly building with French and Malagasy flags (3 shots)
1.24

16.
SCU PLAN Herly and French Ambassador Delauney enter building
1.29

17.
SV INT Malagasy delegates
1.33

18.
SCU PAN M. Herly (light suit) and French delegation seated
1.44

19.
SCU M. Razafind-ralambo (dark suit) and members of Malagasy delegation
1.46



Initials BB/1420 DH/MR/BB/1436



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Negotiations on the revised Franco-Malagasy agreements resumed on tuesday (24 April) in the capital of the Malagasy Republic, Tananarive.

The talks, which were interrupted on 15 March by the French general elections, will touch upon important military and strategic accords between he two countries. They will also include discussions related to aid, the merchant navy and legal affairs.

The outstanding question which remains to be received is whether Malagasy will regain sovereignty over the French military bases in the northwestern part of the island. In his recent talks with the French President, M. Pompidou, the Malagasy Foreign Minister, M. Didier Ratsiraka, stated that his country's control over these bases was "not negotiable."
One of the key French military bases is Diego-Suarez, situated in the extreme northern tip of the Republic. It is the headquarters of French naval forces in the southern Indian Ocean, and the scene of recent demonstrations in support of continued French military presence in the town.

No official communique has yet been issued on the progress of this week's talks. The french delegation to the second-round of negotiations is M. Jean Herly of the Foreign Ministry. His Malagasy counterpart is Foreign Minister M. Ratsiraka.

SYNOPSIS: The port of Diego-Suarez is one of several topics which figures prominently in this week's talks between France and the Malagasy Republic.

Situated in the northern tip of the Malagasy Republic, Diago-Suarez is the headquarters of French naval forces in the southern Indian Ocean.

The deep harbour is ideal for shipping, and the French navy has been the main source of income for the town.

The town of Diago-Suarez staged several demonstrations in February when the people feared that France will withdraw its navy under a new agreement. Townspeople felt that their livelihood was threatened.

Calm has now been restored to Diago-Suarez, but tempers may flare up once again when the question of whether Malagasy regains sovereignty ever all of France's military bases on the island is resolved. M. Ratsiraka, the Republic's Foreign Minister, has states after his recent talks with France's president Pompidou, that his country's control over these military bases was "not negotiable."
Talks between malagasy and France resumed this week in the Republic's capital, Tananarive.

At the National Assembly building on Tuesday, delegates from both countries met to discuss not only military and strategic topics, but also the question of aid, the merchant navy and legal affairs.

The French delegation was led by M. Jean Herly of the French Foreign Ministry, seen here in the light suit. One of his Malagasy counterparts is Supreme Court President. M. Razafindralambo.