1.
GV EXT U.N. building with flags flying (2 shots)
0.10

2.
SV INT Ugandan Ambassador to the United Nations speaking on behalf of the OAU
1.39


Mr Khalid Kinene: "Mr. President, Uganda and the Organisation of African Unity was the first to recognise the true independence of the State of Comoro. And it is for the sake of clarity that I want to state that as far as the OAU is concerned the State of Comoro is composed of the following islands, one--, Mayotte, two--Grande Comoros, Ajuan--three and Mohelli. It is that Comoro comprising those four islands that we are admitting today to the membership of the United Nations. We however note with great concern the continued illegal occupation of a part of the State of Comoro namely the Mayotte island by foreign troops from France. The latest information is that Mayotte is presently occupied by four hundred legionnaires, fifty gendarmes, two warships and one aircraft carrier (indistinct). This is not only flagrant violation of the territorial integrity of a member state of the United Nations but also a threat to the international peace and security in that area.




Initials BB/0305 AB/JB/BB/0315


TELERECORDING
The film is serviced with part of President Said Jaffar's speech. A transcript appears below
WITH REFERENCE TO OUR PRODUCTION NUMBER 11014/75 UNITED NATIONS: COMORO ISLANDS JOIN U.N. AS 143RD MEMBER.
THE SPEAKER ON FILM HAS BEEN WRONGLY IDENTIFIED. HE IS NOT COMORO ISLANDS' PRESIDENT, SAID JAFFAR, BUT THE UGANDAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, MR. KHALID KINENE, WHO SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN UNITY.
VISNEWS APOLOGISES FOR THE ERROR AND ANY INCONVENIENCE IT MAY HAVE PRODUCED. PLEASE AMEND YOUR RECORDS ACCORDINGLY.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Comoro Islands which lie north-west of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean were admitted to the United Nations on Wednesday (12 November). Their admission brings the world body's membership to a total of 143 states.

The former French colony did not receive French support for its candidacy because of a dispute over one of the islands, Mayotte. The residents of Mayotte have opted to remain French.

The Comoro Islands' administration declared unilateral independence from France in July. The declaration preceded formal approval by the French Parliament of a referendum last December in which three of the four islands overwhelmingly voted for independence. Mayotte refused to follow the other three--a situation which is causing friction between France and the Comoro Islands.

When the Comoro Islands' application for membership came before the U.N. on Wednesday (12 November) the French ambassador Louis De Guiringaud served notice that because of the dispute he was not participating in the assembly decision.

After his brief statement the assembly adopted by acclamation a 74 nation resolution to admit the new state.

The Islands' President, Said Jaffar, spoke in support of his country's application for membership.