ABIDJAN TOWN HALL: U THANT AND MAYOR ARRIVE: MAYOR PRESENTS U THANT WITH KEY: U THANT SPEAKING AND SIGNING BOOK:




Initials AH/V/PN/BJ



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Background: CONTINUING HIS TOUR OF AFRICAN STATES, UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL U THANT WAS PRESENTED WITH THE CEREMONIAL KEY TO ABIDJAN, CAPITAL OF THE IVORY-COAST, ON SATURDAY. IN A SPEECH FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY, U THANT OUTLINED HIS REACTIONS TO THE NIGERIAN SITUATION.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S 48-HOUR VISIT TO THE IVORY COAST, WHICH INCLUDED TALKS WITH PRESIDENT FELIX HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY, WAS TO HAVE BEEN THE FINAL STOP IN HIS 10-NATION AFRICAN TOUR.

BUT AT THE REQUEST OF THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT, HE DECIDED TO FLY ON TO LAGOS FOR TALKS WITH THE HEAD OF STATE, MAJOR-GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON.

NIGERIA WAS UPPERMOST IN THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MIND DURING HIS SPEECH IN ABIDJAN. HE SOUGHT TO ALLAY FEARS ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF THE IBO PEOPLE IN THE WAR-RAVAGED REGIONS OF NIGERIA.

TALKS WITH AFRICAN LEADERS HAD GIVEN HIM CONFIDENCE THAT THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD HONOUR ITS ASSURANCES, AND WOULD WORK TO ACHIEVE THE WELL-BEING AND SECURITY OF ALL THE NIGERIAN PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE IBOS.

HE FELT THAT HIS TALKS WITH PRESIDENT HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY HAD ADDED TO HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE NIGERIAN SITUATION, AND THIS WOULD HELP HIM IN SEEKING A PEACEFUL FORMULA FOR RECONCILIATION IN NIGERIA.

PRIOR TO THE SPEECH, U THANT HAD BEEN PRESENTED WITH THE KEY TO THE CITY OF ABIDJAN BY MAYOR KONAN KANGA.