President Francois Tombalbaye of Chad arrived in Congo-Brazzaville on Friday (November 12th) declaring that his visit proved relations between the two countries were excellent. Thousands of Congolese led by their head of state, President Marien Ngouabi, welcomed Chad's leader. During his visit, President Tombalbaye opened the new headquarters of the African and Malagasy Posts and Telecommunications Union in Brazzaville.

SYNOPSIS: At Brazzaville airport on Friday, the focus of attention was the aircraft bringing President Francois Tombalbaye of Chad on his visit to the country. President Marien Ngouabi led the Congolese welcome for Chad's head of state, whose visit was chiefly undertaken in his capacity as current leader of the Africa, Malagasy and Mauritian Common Organisation. As President of the organisation, he was to open the new quarter million pound headquarters of the African and Malagasy Posts and Telecommunications Union. The ceremony was to be followed by a full conference of the union, with closer co-operation in telecommunications the chief item on the agenda.

Later, when the formal welcome was over, President Tombalbaye was able to tell newsmen that his visit proved relations between Chad and Congo-Brazzaville were excellent. He added that he and President Ngouabi were agreed in their desire to see cooperation extended in all fields in central Africa. On the subject of the Africa, Malagasy and Mauritian Common Organisation, President Tombalbaye said he was well satisfied with the achievements of its specialised agencies, except that Air Afrique is currently suffering from problems.

Foreign newsmen were curious about the relations between Chad and Libya following President Tombalbaye's allegations that Libya had a hand in an abortive coup in Chad earlier this year. The President answered by declaring that the important thing was that the people of Chad, like the Congolese, were inspired by a sense of combat.