AIRCRAFT ARRIVING; BOMBOKO GREETED BY SCHEYVEN; PARTY AND PRINCIPLES MOVING OFF.




Initials JH/V/JF/PF



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Background: CONGOLESE FOREIGN MINISTER JUSTIN BOMBOKO ARRIVED IN BRUSSELS TODAY (THURSDAY) FOR TALKS WITH THE BELGIAN GOVERNMENT ABOUT BELGIAN ASSISTANCE TO THE CONGO FOR 1969. MR. BOMBOKO WAS MET AT THE AIRPORT IN BRUSSELS BY M. RAYMOND SCHEYVEN, BELGIAN MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT. AMONG THE SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED WILL BE THE RENEWAL OF A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.

WITH MR. BOMBOKO WERE MR. MUSHIETE, THE CONGOLESE FINANCE MINISTER AND MR. KITHAMA, MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

MR. BOMBOKO IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN BRUSSELS FOR ABOUT A WEEK. HE WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO BEGIN HIS VISIT LAST SATURDAY, BUT POSTPONED IT BECAUSE OF A CONGOLESE GOVERNMENT RESHUFFLE.

THE KINSHASA GOVERNMENT EXPROPRIATED THE COPPER RIGHTS OF UNION MINIERE, THE FORMER CONGOLESE MINING GIANT, AND A NEW COMPANY, GEOCOMIN, WAS FORMED TO REPLACE THE BELGIAN FIRM. UNION MANNER REFUSED TO TRANSFER ITS HEADQUARTERS FROM BRUSSELS TO THE CONGO IN DECEMBER, 1966.