ALGIERS AIRPORT (SEPTEMBER 11 AND 12); ARRIVAL OF U THANT AND PRESIDENT KAUNDA OF ZAMBIA, PRESIDENT TSIRANANA OF MALAGASY, PRESIDENT MOBUTU OF CONGO-KINSHASA, EMPEROR HALF SELASSIE OF ETHIOPIA, PRESIDENT BO???ASSA OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AND CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO OF NIGERIA - ALL GREETED BY PRESIDENT BOUME??? OF ALGERIA.




Initials JP/V/CCT/SGM



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Background: THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS, U THANT, AND MANY AFRICAN HEADS OF STATE HAVE ARRIVED IN ALGERIA FOR THE FIFTH ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN UNITY SUMMIT CONFERENCE WHICH OPENS TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

AT THE SUMMIT CONFERENCE, DELEGATES FROM 39 COUNTRIES WILL NOT OFFICIALLY DEBATE THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR ALTHOUGH IT WILL BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEMS DISCUSSED PRIVATELY. THE LAGOS DELEGATION WILL NOT ALLOW ANY OPEN DEBATE ON THE ISSUE BUT EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE OF ETHIOPIA WILL REPORT ON HIS EFFORTS TO PRODUCE AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NIGERIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND BREAKAWAY BIAFRA.

NIGERIA MAINTAINS THAT THE CIVIL WAR IS A PURELY INTERNAL MATTER AND MOST AFRICAN COUNTRIES ADOPT THIS STAND, WHICH IS IN LINE WITH A RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT LAST YEAR'S O.A.U. SUMMIT IN CONGO-KINSHASA. NO BIAFRAN REPRESENTATIVES HAVE REACHED ALGIERS SO FAR AND ALGERIA, WHICH SUPPORTS THE NIGERIAN FEDERAL STAND, IS NOT EXPECTED TO ALLOW ANY BIAFRAN TO ENTER ITS TERRITORY UNLESS SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED TO BY THE O.A.U.

U THANT WILL ADDRESS THE SUMMIT CONFERENCE WHEN IT OPENS TOMORROW. MORE THAN 20 AFRICAN HEADS OF STATE ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE FOUR DAY CONFERENCE. THE SUMMIT WILL BE HELD AT THE CLUB LES PINES, A SEA-SIDE RESORT 12 MILES (20 KMS) WEST OF ALGIERS.