MALI'S MINISTER OF PLANNING AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, M.JEAN-MARIE KONE, WAS TODAY (FRIDAY) RECEIVED BY PRESIDENT CHARLES DE GAULLE AT THE ELYSEE PALACE. HIS VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT FOLLOWED THE SIGNING ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 15) OF AN AGREEMENT UNDER WHICH FRANCE WILL UNDERWRITE THE MALI ECONOMY.

AT A LUNCHEON GIVEN BY THE AFRICAN STUDIES CLUB IN PARIS YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) M.KONE SAID THAT MALI WOULD BE PREPARED, IF ASKED, TO ACT AS MEDIATOR IN THE PRESENT CONFLICT BETWEEN IVORY COAST PRESIDENT FELIX HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY AND GUINEA'S PRESIDENT SEKOU TOURE - "WHEN THE ATMOSPHERE IS FAVOURABLE".

ANSWERING A QUESTION AT THE LUNCHEON, WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY NEWSMEN, M.KONE SAID THAT IF ASKED TO DO SO, MALI'S PRESIDENT, MODIBO KEITA, WOULD CERTAINLY MEDIATE IN THE CONFLICT WHICH HAS DIVIDED IVORY COAST AND GUINEA FOR THE PAST YEAR.

AFTER TODAY'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT DE GAULLE, M.KONE TOLD NEWSMEN HE HAD THANKED THE PRESIDENT FOR THE "HAPPY COMPLETION" OF RECENT FRANCO-MALI NEGOTIATIONS. HE SAID PRESIDENT DE GAULLE HAD LISTENED WITH GREAT INTEREST TO THE ACCOUNT HE HAD GIVEN OF MALI'S ECONOMIC SITUATION AND HAD GIVEN MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT.

M. KONE, WHO LED THE MALI DELEGATION FOR THE FINANCIAL TALKS IN PARIS, WAS SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO BAMAKO TOMORROW (SATURDAY).