1.
GV EXT. ELYSEE PALACE
0.06

2.
GV INT. POHER TALKING TO PRESS(SILENT)
0.13

3.
CU DITTO FRENCH SOF:" JE SUIS PERSUADE... ENDS:".....MARCHE COMMUN"


4.
SV PAN PHOTOGRAPHERS
0.54

5.
SV POHER LISTENING TO QUESTION
0.59

6.
CU PHOTOGRAPHER
1.02

7.
MV POHER SPEAKS FRENCH SOF:"CETTE QUESTION..." ENDS:"....LA REND POSSIBLE"
2.22


TRANSCPIPT: POHER:"I AM CONVINCED THAT ENGLAND, HAVING GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO THE MATTER, HAS THE DEFINITE INTENTION OF ENTERING THE COMMON MARKET - AND THIS PROBLEM IS A DIFFICULT ONE. FOR THE SIX, IT HAS ALREADY TAKEN A 10-YEAR TRANSITORY PERIOD - AND I THINK THAT WHAT IS NEEDED IS NEGOTIATION WHICH WILL ALLOW THE FITTING IN OR, IF YOU PREFER, THE SURROUNDING OF THIS PROBLEM TO SEE IF EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. THIS WILL DEPEND ON THE NEGOTIATIONS, BUT I DO NOT WISH TO MAKE ANY STATEMENTS BEFORE HAND. BUT, AS I DESIRE THE EXPANSION OF THE COMMUNITY, I AM IN A HURRY TO SEE THE OPENING OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS - SO AS TO BE FULLY CONVINCED THAT ENGLAND CAN, AND WANTS TO, ENTER THE COMMON MARKET."



POHER: "THE QUESTION IS THAT THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE DATES FROM 1949 - AND WE ARE NOW IN 1969 AND WE CANNOT EXAMINE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE PAST, AS MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED. EVEN RELATIONS WITH THE EAST AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WITH THE EAST. THEREFORE, ON THIS POINT, I THINK THAT THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE IS IN FACT A GUARANTEE OF OUR SECURITY AND OUR INDEPENDENCE. AND I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT AT A CERTAIN PERIOD WE RETAINED OUR FREEDOM THANKS TO THE AMERICAN UMBRELLA. HAVING SAID THIS, AND BECAUSE I HAVE A REAL FRIENDSHIP FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, I THINK WE MUST SPEAK TO THEM FRANKLY BECAUSE EUROPE, SUCH A SHE IS' MUST HAVE A PLACE OF CHOICE AND INDEPENDENCE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE. BUT THIS DOES NOT EXCLUDE AT ALL THE EASING OF TENSION WITH THE EAST, I WOULD SAY IT COMPLETES IT, IT MAKES IT MORE DEFINITE AND - I WOULD GO EVEN FURTHER - IT MAKES IT POSSIBLE."




Initials LD/V/BOB/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: M. ALAIN POHER, INTERIM PRESIDENT OF FRANCE SINCE GENERAL DE GAULLE'S RESIGNATION AND THE FAVOURITE IN THE RACE FOR NEXT SUNDAY'S (JUNE 1) PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, TODAY (TUESDAY) HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE ELYSEE PALACE IN PARIS. AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES ON WHICH HE ANSWERED QUESTIONS WERE BRITAIN'S ENTRY INTO THE COMMON MARKET AND THE FUTURE OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION (NATO).

M. POHER, WHO ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY ONLY HOURS BEFORE THE REGISTRY OF CANDIDATES WAS CLOSED, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY JUMPED AHEAD OF HIS NEAREST RIVAL, M. GEORGES POMPIDOU, IN THE POLLS. BECAUSE OF HIS CONCURRENT DUTIES AS INTERIM PRESIDENT, M. POHER HAS NOT TRAVELLED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AS HIS SIX OPPONENTS HAVE BEEN DOING - BUT HAS RESTRICTED HIS CAMPAIGNING TO RADIO AND TELEVISION, PRESS CONFERENCES AND PRESS INTERVIEWS.

IN TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE HE ANSWERED A QUESTION ON HIS STAND ON BRITAIN'S ENTRY INTO THE COMMON MARKET.

AND ANSWERING A QUESTION ON THE FUTURE OF NATO, M. POHER SAID: