DELEGATES ENTER: CONFERENCE IN SESSION: VARIOUS SHOTS OF DELEGATES AND OBSERVERS.




Initials AH/VS/CT/BB



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Background: THIRTEEN FOREIGN MINISTERS WERE PRESENT FOR YESTERDAY'S (THURSDAY) OPENING SESSION OF THE AFRO-MALAGASY COMMON ORGANISATION'S MINISTERIAL COUNCIL IN THE CAMEROUNIAN CAPITAL OF YAOUNDE.

THE FIVE-DAY CONFERENCE WILL PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE SUBSEQUENT SUMMIT MEETING OF HEADS OF STATE FROM THE 15 COUNTRIES MAKING UP THE ECONOMIC GROUPING.

SPECIFIC PROJECTS BEING DISCUSSED BY THE MINISTERS INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MEAT MARKETING BOARD AND OF A TRAINING CENTRE TO AID AFRICANISATION IN COUNTRIES BELONGING TO THE ORGANISATION.

THE OUTGOING CHAIRMAN, CONGO-KINSHASA'S FOREIGN MINISTER CYRILLE ADOULA, EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT DISAGREEMENTS AMONG MEMBERS OF THE ORGANISATION WOULD BE SPEEDILY RESOLVED, AS SOLIDARITY WAS ESSENTIAL TO ITS CONTINUED SUCCESS.