GV Plane comes to halt

GV President Lamizana and officials walking to plane

SV Col. Kountche leaves plane and is greeted

SV Col. Kountche and president Lamizana walk towards rostrum

SV Colour guard

SV&CU Lamizana and Kountche taking salute (2 shots)

GV Pres. Lamizana and Col. Kountche review guard

SV Col. Kountche shaking hands with troops (3 shots)
14 Initials ET/1518 ET/1531 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Colonel Seyni Kountche, Head of State of niger, arrived in Ouagadougou capital of Upper Vola, on Friday morning (4 October). He was met at the airport by president Sangoule Lamizana and reviewed a guard of honour there. The two Heads of State then went to the Presidential Palace where they conferred together for an hour.

colonel Kountche was making his first visit to a neighbouring country since the coup d'etat which overthrew former President Hamani Diori last April.

After visiting Upper Volta the colonel went to Toga where he had a meeting with President Gnassingbe Eyadema. when asked about the purpose of his trip Colonel Kountche stressed that it was a normal visit to countries which shared the same aspirations as the people of Niger.

SYNOPSIS: Colonel Kountche was given full ceremonial honours at the airport. Both Upper Volta and Niger have ben hit by a seven year drought and are two of the poorest nations in the world.

However, both are working with other countries to improve their position. France is giving extensive financial and other aid, While Upper Volta and Niger are cooperating with Mali to develop areas of mutual interest.