DEBAT MEETING DIORI; MILITARY ESCORT AND GUARD; FLAG; DIORI MEETING OFFICIALS; CROWD; DIORI AND DEBT IN MOTORCADE; DEBAT AND DIORI SPEAKING; CAKE BEING CUT.




Initials GEM/VS/CCT/EEH



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Background: PRESIDENT HANANI DIORI OF NIGER ARRIVED IN BRAZZAVILLE THIS WEEK TO LAY THE FOUNDATIONS STONE OF THE NEW HEADQUARTERS BUILDING OF THE AFRO-MALAGASY POSTAL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION.

THE NEW POSTAL UNION IS AN AGENCY OF THE AFRO-MALAGASY COMMON ORGANISATION (OCAM), OF WHICH M. DIORI IS THE CURRENT PRESIDENT. THE ORGANISATION LINKS FRENCH-SPEAKING AFRICAN STATES AND THE ISLAND REPUBLIC OF MALAGASY, AND IT'S PRESIDENCY IS SHARED BY THE LEADERS ON AN ANNUAL ROTATION BASIS.

PRESIDENT DIORI HAD TRAVELLED TO BRAZZAVILLE ACROSS THE CONGO RIVER FROM KINSHASA, WHERE HE'D BEEN ATTENDING CELEBRATIONS MARKING THE ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE.

PRESIDENT ALPHONSE MASSAMBA-DEBAT OF CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE MET HIS GUESTS, AND INTRODUCED HIM TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS. THEN THE TWO LEADERS STOOD TO ATTENTION AS THE NATIONAL ANTHEMS OF THEIR COUNTRIES WERE PLAYED.

BOG CROWDS TURNED OUT TO CHEER AS THE LEADERS DROVE IN AN OPEN CAR INTO THE CITY FOR AN OFFICIAL RECEPTION...AND THE CUTTING OF A CAKE TO CELEBRATE THE FOUNDING OF THE POSTAL UNION.

TRAVELLING WITH THE NIGER PRESIDENT WERE HIS FOREIGN MINISTER, M. ABDOU SIDIKOU, MINISTER FOR SAHARA AFFAIRS AND POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS, M. MOUDOUR ZAKARA AND MINISTER OF FINANCE, M. KOUROUMOU BARCOUGNE.