1.
SV PAN Cameroun Minister of Finance speaking to guests
0.16

2.
CU Minister of Finance speaking
0.18

3.
SV PAN Delegates applaud PAN TO officials
0.24

4.
CU Officials listen to speech
0.27

5.
CU Chad Finance Minister speaking (2 shots)
0.32

6.
SV Bank of Africa signboard
0.35

7.
SV Chad Finance Minister laying foundation stone PAN TO delegates applauding (4 shots)
0.58

8.
SV Foundation stone
1.00

9.
GV PAN Delegates leaving
1.10



Initials BB/1835 TH/PN/BB/1850



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Finance Ministers from five African countries attended ceremonies in Yacunde last weekend (3 November) during which the cornerstone was laid for the headquarters building of the Bank of Central African States.

Cameroun Finance Minister Charles Onana Awana told his fellow ministers from the Congo, Gabon, Chad and the Central African Republic that the choice of headquarters site testified to the friendship and confidence the other nations had in Cameroun. He added that the bank will promote cooperation among participating states.

SYNOPSIS: Cameroun Finance Minister Charles Onana Awana played host to fellow ministers from four other African countries last weekend. They had gathered together in Yaounde to witness the laying of the cornerstone of the headquarters building of the Bank of Central African States. M. Owana said the choice of yaounde as a site testified to the friendship and confidence the other nations placed in Cameroun.

A speech, too, from the Finance Minister of Chad, M. Djengar Mbailemdana. He's the President of the new bank -- and it was among his duties to lay the cornerstone of the headquarters building. The other finance ministers present were from the Congo, Gabon and the Central African Republic.

Earlier in the ceremonies, M. Awana had declared that the bank will promote monetary cooperation among participating states. The decision to set up the bank was taken two years ago. The administration was originally in Paris, but will be moved to Yaounde when the new headquarters building is completed.