ISRAEL'S FOREIGN MINISTER, ABBA EBAN, ARRIVED IN ABIDJAN, CAPITAL OF IVORY COAST, ON MONDAY FOR FOUR DAYS OF TALKS WITH PRESIDENT FELIX HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY AND SENIOR MINISTERS.

A WARM WELCOME WAS LAID ON FOR MR. EBAN. PRESIDENT HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY SENT HIS PRIVATE MYSTERE EXECUTIVE JET TO DAKAR TO COLLECT HIM.

A BIG CROWD OF ISRAELIS TURNED UP AT THE AIRPORT TO GREET THEIR FOREIGN MINISTER.

AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, MR. EBAN TOLD REPORTERS HE'D REITERATED TO MR. GUNNAR JARRING, UNITED NATIONS PEACE ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST, THAT ISRAEL'S DESIRE WAS STILL PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE WITH HER NEIGHBOURS.

HE ALSO SAID THAT ISRAEL WAS MAKING STRONG EFFORTS TO RETRIEVE THE HI-JACKED BOEING JET, CREW AND PASSENGERS FROM ALGERIA.