1.
LV ARC DE TRIOMPH
0.05

2.
GV DITTO
0.10

3.
SV MOBUTU ARRIVES AND GUARD OF HONOUR SALUTE (2 SHOTS)
0.24

4.
SV MOBUTU PLACES WREATH (3 SHOTS)
0.46

5.
SV MOBUTU SHAKES HANDS WITH OFFICERS AND VIP'S
1.02

6.
SV MOBUTU SIGNING BOOK AND WALKS AWAY
1.22

7.
SV MOBUTU SHAKES HANDS WITH VIP'S
1.34

8.
GV MOBUTU AND PARTY ENTERING RENAULT FACTORY AND INSIDE (2 SHOTS)
2.02

9.
GV CARS ON ASSEMBLY LINE AS PARTY WATCH
2.08

10.
SV MOBUTU INSPECT CAR
2.18

12.
SV CAR DRIVEN UP AND MOBUTU STEPS INSIDE (2 SHOTS)
2.40



Initials PS/16.19 PS/1645



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: PRESIDENT JOSEPH MOBUTU OF CONGO-KINSHASA, WHO ARRIVED IN PARIS ON MONDAY ON A SIX-DAY VISIT, HAS WON AN INCREASE IN FRENCH AID TO HIS COUNTRY FOLLOWING HIS TALKS WITH PRESIDENT POMPIDOU.

THIS COVERAGE FROM VISNEWS CAMERA MAN JEAN POIGNONEC SHOWS TWO OF THE MORE PUBLIC APPEARANCES OF THE CONGOLESE PRESIDENT ON TUESDAY, WHEN HE LAID A WREATH ON THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, AND VISITED THE RENAULT CAR FACTORY OUTSIDE PARIS.

FRENCH AID TO CONGO-KINSHASA WAS MORE THAN ELEVEN MILLION FRANCS (873,675 STERLING) LAST YEAR. THE INCREASED AID WILL BE PARTICULARLY IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS FIELDS.

SYNOPSIS: THE ARC DE TRIOMPH IN PARIS, ALWAYS ON THE LIST OF VISITORS TO THE FRENCH CAPITAL, WAS ONE OF THE LANDMARKS VISITED BY CONGO-KINSHASA PRESIDENT JOSEPH MOBUTU IN THE COURSE OF HIS SIX-DAY VISIT A MILITARY MAN HIMSELF, P. MOBUTU WAS HERE TO PAY HIS RESPECTS AT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER WHERE HE PLACED A WREATH PRESIDENT MOBUTU'S TALKS WITH THE FRENCH PRESIDENT GEORGES POMPIDOU DURING HIS VISIT HAVE SO FAR RESULTED IN AN AGREEMENT TO STEP UP AID TO CONGO-KINSHASA. THE AID IS PARTICULARLY IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION AND TELECOMMUNICATION FIELDS. FRANCE HAS ALSO AGREED TO ALLOW THE ZAIRE, CONG-KINSHASA CURRENCY, TO BE QUOTED ON THE PAR BOURSE, MAKING IT CONVERTIBLE AGAINST THE CFA FRANC, WHICH CIRCULATES IN FRENCH-SPEAKING AFRICAN COUNTRIES. THIS DECISION IS LIKELY TO ENCOURAGE MORE FRENCH PRIVATE INVESTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY FRENCH AID TO CONGO-KINSHASA WAS MORE THAN ELEVEN MILLION FRANCES, (873, 675 STERLING) LAST YEAR. CONG-KINSHASA, WITH A POPULATION OF MORE THAN 17 MILLION, AND A BELGIAN COLONIAL BACKGROUND, IS THE LARGEST FRENCH-SPEAKING COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

THE PRESIDENT'S PROGRAMME ON TUESDAY ALSO INCLUDED A VISIT TO THE RENAULT AUTOMOBILE FACTORY OUTSIDE PARIS, WHERE HE HAD A FULL CONDUCTED TOUR. THROUGHOUT THE TALKS WHICH THE PRESIDENT HAS HAD WITH M. POMPIDOU WITH MINISTERS AND WITH OFFICIALS, ECONOMIC MATTERS HAVE BEEN MOST IMPORTANT. PRESIDENT POMPIDOU IS REPORTED TO HAVE TOLD GENERAL MOBUTU THAT FRANCE CONSIDERED CO-OPERATION WITH CONG-KINSHASA WAS JUSTIFIED BECAUSE OF THE COMMON LANGUAGE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. FRANCE'S VOCATION TO AID AFRICAN NATIONS AND THE WEIGHT OF CONGO-KINSHASA IN AFRICA. PRESIDENT MOBUTU STRESSED THAT HIS COUNTRY OPERATED AN 'OPEN DOOR' POLICY WHICH DID NOT OFFER ANY SPECIAL PRIVILEGES TO PARTICULAR COUNTRIES, BUT WELCOMED CO-OPERATION WITH ALL.