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GV EXTERIOR PAN: of the Togo Workers' Confederation headquarters in Lome.
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2.
SV: delegates arriving with Labour Minister Issa Sama in centre (dark suit)
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GV AND SV INTERIOR: Mr Issa Sama speaking, with delegates listening (3 shots)
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SV: Mr Theo Bougaerts Secretary General of the International Journalist's Federation, speaking and delegates listening (3 shots)
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Initials RH/1920



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Journalists from 10 African countries have been meeting in Togo to discuss ways of improving communications and information services throughout their continent.

SYNOPSIS: The five-day seminar which ended on Saturday (10 December) was held at the Togo Workers' Confederation headquarters, in Lome. It attracted journalists from Benin, Cameroun, the Congo, Gabon, Niger, Senegal, Zaire, the Ivory Coast, and the Upper Volta, as well as local pressmen. Among the special guests on the first day was Togo's Minister of Labour Mr. Issa Sama.

He told delegates that they had chosen as their venue a country where journalists had long played an important role of conscience. In the past, Togolese reporters had joined their country's struggle for independence from foreign rule, Mr. Sama said. Today their special importance was as educators. He praised the establishment of Togolese and Pan-African news agencies, the development of local radio and television and improved journalistic training.

Mr Theo Bougaerts, Secretary-General of the International Journalists' Federation, then outlined his organisation's aims to encourage the development and exchange of information between the Third World and developed countries.