President Felix Houphouet-Boigny of the Ivory Coast received leaders of the government and diplomats at the Presidential Palace on Saturday morning (1 Jan.).

They called on the President to exchange with him New year greetings.

President Houphouet-Boigny marked the New Year with a message to his people in which he said the Ivory Coast would follow a policy of peace towards the rest of the world.

He said his government was aware of the need for dialogue -- to regulate tension and conflict.

SYNOPSIS: The Presidential Palace in the capital of the Ivory Coast, Abidjan. And calling on the President, leaders of government and diplomats -- to exchange New Year greetings. M. Phillippe Yace is President of the Ivory Coast's National Assembly. And the President of the Economic and Social Council -- M. Coulibaly.

The President of the Ivory Coast's Supreme Court -- M. Alphonse Boni.

All prominent figures in the government were there for the occasion -- as well as senior diplomats from all countries with embassies in Abidjan. The French Ambassador was one.......

The Ambassador from Belgium was another.

In a New Year message, President Houphouet-Boigny told his people that in 1972 the Ivory Coast would follow a policy of peace towards the rest of the world. He said his government was always conscious of the need for dialogue to regulate tension and conflict.