LOME VIEW & FRENCH EMBASSY: M. LANGLAIS & M. GABA: HONOUR GUARD: PRESIDENT EYADEMA & M. LAMBONY: M. LANGLAIS & STAFF: M. LANGLAIS PRESENTING CREDENTIALS: PRESIDENT EYADEMA SPEAKING: AMBASSADOR & PRESIDENT SHAKING HANDS: DIPLOMATIC GROUP MEETING PRESIDENT EYADEMA.




Initials



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Background: ON MONDAY (JUNE 30) FRANCE'S NEW AMBASSADOR TO TOGO, M. HENRI LANGLAIS, PRESENTED HIS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT ETIENNE EYADEMA AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN LOME. THE FRENCH EMBASSY IS THE SENIOR DIPLOMATIC MISSION IN THE FORMER UNITED NATIONS TRUSTEESHIP OF TOGO, WHICH BECAME AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC IN 1960.

AMBASSADOR LANGLAIS WAS MET AT THE FRENCH EMBASSY BY CHIEF OF PROTOCOL M. JOHN GABA WHO, AFTER THE OFFICIAL SALUTE AND GUARD OF HONOUR PRESENTATION, ACCOMPANIED THE NEW AMBASSADOR AND HIS STAFF TO THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE FOR THE CEREMONY.

THE 58-YEAR-OLD DIPLOMATIC WAS FORMERLY A CONSUL IN GREAT BRITAIN, AN UNDER-SECRETARY IN CHARGE OF EUROPEAN AFFAIRS AT THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY, AND AMBASSADOR TO MALAWI, HE HOLDS THE LEGION OF HONOUR, AND IS MARRIED WITH ONE CHILD.

AFTER PRESENTING HIS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT EYADEMA AND INTRODUCING HIS STAFF TO THE AFRICAN HEAD OF STATE, AMBASSADOR LANGLAIS SPOKE OF THE LONG-EXISTENT LINKS BETWEEN TOGO AND FRANCE, ADDING THAT UNDER M. POMPIDOU'S PRESIDENCY "NOTHING WOULD CHANGE IN THE POLICY OF COOPERATION AND SINCERE FRIENDSHIP TOWARDS TOGO THAT WAS INITIATED BY PRESIDENT CHARLES DE GAULLE."
IN HIS ACCEPTANCE OF M. LANGLAIS CREDENTIALS, PRESIDENT EYADEMA ASKED THE AMBASSADOR TO TRANSMIT THE CONGRATULATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF TOGO TO THE NEW FRENCH PRESIDENT AND REITERATED HIS FIRM SUPPORT OF THE LASTING FRANCO-TOGOLESE COOPERATION. "IN EFFECT," HE ADDED "THE TOGOLESE GOVERNMENT AND ITS PEOPLE, FIRMLY ENGAGED IN THE TOUGH AND DIFFICULT WAR AGAINST IGNORANCE, FAMINE, SICKNESS AND MISERY - THE FLAWS WHICH STILL THREATEN OUR MILLION PEOPLE - HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THE FRENCH REPUBLIC AN ALLY IN THE BATTLE TO PROMOTE AN ALWAYS GREATER HUMAN DIGNITY."
ONCE THE OFFICIAL CEREMONIES WERE ENDED, THE PRESIDENT OFFERED A RECEPTION FOR THE FRENCH DIPLOMATS.