MR FERDINAND N'TUMBA, CONGO-KINSHASAN MINISTER OF LAND, MINES AND ENERGY, YESTERDAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED IN PARIS THE FORMATION OF THE INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL OF COPPER EXPORTING COUNTRIES (CIPEC). MR N'TUMBA WAS SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE END OF WEEK-LONG TALKS BETWEEN THE WORLD'S FOUR MAJOR COPPER-PRODUCING COUNTRIES - CHILE, CONGO-KINSHASA, PERU AND ZAMBIA. MR N'TUMBA WAS CONFERENCE PRESIDENT.

HE TOLD JOURNALISTS THAT CIPEC HAD SET UP A NEW COPPER INFORMATION CENTRE IN PARIS.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANISATION OF CIPEC HAD ALSO BEEN AGREED ON. THE SUPREME CONTROLLING BODY WILL BE A MINISTERIAL COUNCIL, MEETING ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS. BELOW THEM WILL BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD COMPOSED OF TWO EXPORT DELEGATES FROM EACH COUNTRY.

THE DAY-TO-DAY RUNNING OF CIPEC WILL BE IN THE HANDS OF AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MADE UP OF ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH COUNTRY.

CIPEC IS A CONSULTATIVE ORGANISATION WHOSE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE WILL BE TO STABILISE THE PRICE OF COPPER, ALTHOUGH IT WILL NOT HAVE THE POWER TO FIX PRICES.

MR N'TUMBA CONDUCTED THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN FRENCH.

SYNOPSIS: DELEGATES FROM FOUR COPPER-PRODUCING COUNTRIES -- CHILE, CONGO-KINSHASA, PERU AND ZAMBIA -- HAVE BEEN MEETING IN PARIS. MR. N'TUMBA OF CONGO-KINSHASA WAS CONFERENCE PRESIDENT.