PRESIDENT OULD DADDAH SHAKING HANDS AT THE PALACE WITH PRESIDENT DE GAULLE; NEWSMEN; OULD DADDAH INTO CAR; GUARD OF HONOUR; CAR LEAVING.




Initials RM/V/BOB/PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: PRESIDENT MOKTAR OULD DADDAH OF MAURITANIA SAID IN PARIS TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT HIS COUNTRY AND FRANCE SHARED IDENTICAL VIEWS ON ALL INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM EXCEPT THAT OF BIAFRA, THE BREAKAWAY EASTERN REGION OF NIGERIA. THE PRESIDENT HAD TALKS AT THE ELYSEE PALACE EARLIER TODAY WITH PRESIDENT DE GAULLE OF FRANCE.

PRESIDENT OULD DADDAH'S TALKS WITH PRESIDENT DE GAULLE LASTED MORE THAN AN HOUR, DURING WHICH THEY DISCUSSED A WIDE RANGE OF BILATERAL AND INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE MIDDLE EAST, THE SOVIET INTERVENTION IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA, AND BIAFRA. "BIAFRA WAS THE ONLY SUBJECT ON WHICH WE DISAGREED", THE MAURITANIAN PRESIDENT TOLD NEWSMEN.

PRESIDENT OULD DADDAH, WHO ATTENDED LAST WEEK'S MEETING OF THE ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN UNITY (OAU) SUMMIT MEETING IN ALGIERS, SAID MAURITANIA'S POSITION WAS THAT OF THE OAU, WHICH BACKS THE NIGERIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. PRESIDENT DE GAULLE SUPPORTS BIAFRA.

THE MAURITIAN PRESIDENT PLANS TO REMAIN IN FRANCE UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER. ON SATURDAY HE WILL ATTEND A DINNER GIVEN BY PRESIDENT DE GAULLE AT THE ELYSEE PALACE FOR AFRICAN HEADS OF STATE AT PRESENT VISITING PARIS.