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GV PAN: Mr. Augustin Honvo enters hall and sits.
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SV ZOOM OUT: portrait to delegates seated.
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SV: other delegates seated. (4 shots)
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SV: delegates applauding.
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Initials RH/1606



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: An international seminar on the topic "The protection of the Cultural Heritage" recently came to an end in Cotonou, the capital of the Benin Republic. It had been organised by the Benin Agence de co-operation, which encourages and develops contacts with other countries. On its final day the conference was addressed by Mr. Augustin Honvoh, Minister for Technical and Higher Training.

SYNOPSIS: Mr. Honvoh told the participants that he was especially grateful to Benin's President, Matthieu Kerekou who had sent his congratulations for the hard and serious work that had been done during the seminar. Their determination, the President had said, would go far towards solving cultural problems in their respective countries. Mr. Honvoh himself added that the proceedings and the recommendations which emerged from them, had been of remarkably high quality.

It was easy to understand, went on the Minister, how satisfactory it was for the Benin Republic to have hosted such an important seminar which had attracted people from so many different countries. It had also proved an important manifestation of the value of the Agence de Co-operation. The Minister concluded his address by inviting Director of the Seminar, Mr. Gaston Arboton, to ensure that it faithfully reflected the policies of the Benin popular revolution and of its leader, President Kerekou.