PRESIDENT NASSER WAITING AT CAIRO AIRPORT; PRESIDENT ARIF OFF PLANE AND GREETED; GUARD OF HONOUR; CHILDREN PRESENT FLOWERS; CROWD; THE TWO LEADERS AT THE KUBBEH PALACE.




Initials RM/VS/JH/EEH



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Background: PRESIDENT ABDEL RAHMAN ARIF OF IRAQ FLEW INTO CAIRO, CAPITAL OF THE UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC, YESTERDAY (SATURDAY) TO GIVE PRESIDENT NASSER DETAILS OF HIS STATE VISIT TO FRANCE, BEFORE CONTINUING ON HOME TO BAGHDAD TODAY. PRESIDENT ARIF ARRIVED FROM PARIS, WHERE HE HAD TALKS WITH PRESIDENT DE GAULLE ON THE MIDDLE EAST SITUATION.

A JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED IN PARIS YESTERDAY SAID THAT FRANCE AND IRAQ HAD AGREED THAT THE MIDDLE EAST PROBLEM COULD NOT BE SETTLED UNTIL ISRAEL WITHDREW FROM THE ARAB TERRITORIES IT OCCUPIED DURING THE JUNE WAR. IT SAID: "THE TWO HEADS OF STATE EXPRESSED THEIR DESIRE TO FAVOUR THE USE OF MODERN AND MUTUALLY ADVANTAGEOUS WAYS OF EXPLOITING OIL RESOURCES".

THE COMMUNIQUE SAID PRESIDENT DE GAULLE STRESSED FRENCH INTEREST IN IRAQI DEVELOPMENT AND THAT THE TWO SIDES AGREED TO HOLD FREQUENT CONSULTATIONS IN PARIS AND BAGHDAD TO STUDY POINTS OF MUTUAL INTEREST. FRANCE ALSO AGREED TO LEND CULTURAL EXPERTS AND PROFESSORS TO IRAQ.