PLANE TAXIES IN; BOUMEDIENNE WELCOMED BY KOSYGIN; KOSYGIN GREETS ALGERIAN OFFICIALS; PARTY LEAVES AIRPORT. (TELERECORDING)




Initials RGH/TELE EX TSS VIA EUROVISION/CR/SGM



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Background: THE PRIME MINISTER OF ALGERIA, COLONEL HOUARI BOUMEDIENNE, FLEW INTO MOSCOW LAST NIGHT (MONDAY) IN AN APPARENT EFFORT TO PERSUADE THE SOVIET UNION TO PLAY A MORE DIRECT ROLE IN SUPPORT OF THE ARAB COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

COLONEL BOUMEDIENNE HAS ALREADY CALLED ON THE COMMUNIST COUNTRIES TO "DEFINE THEIR POSITION MORE CLEARLY AND TAKE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES MORE BOLDLY" IN THE ARAB-ISRAEL CONFLICT.

CRITICISM OF THE SOVIET UNION'S DISINCLINATION TO PROVINCE MORE THAN VERBAL SUPPORT FOR THE ARAB STATES DURING THE WAR HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTER FROM EGYPT AND SYRIA. BUT COLONEL BOUMEDIENNE IS THE ONLY ARAB LEADER TO VOICE IT PUBLICLY.

COLONEL BOUMEDIENNE WAS MET AT MOSCOW AIRPORT BY THE SOVIET PRIME MINISTER, MR ALEXEI KOSYGIN, THE DEFENCE MINISTER, MARSHAL ANDREI GRECHKO AND THE FOREIGN MINISTER, MR ANDREI GROMYKO. THE ALGERIAN LEADER EXCHANGED HANDSHAKES WITH THE SOVIET LEADERS AND DROVE OFF INTO MOSCOW WITHOUT MAKING A SPEECH.