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LV Costa Gomes and delegation down aircraft steps and greeted by Giscard d'Estaing
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GV Flags of France and Portugal flying
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LV Giscard d'Estaing and Costa Gomes salute guard of honour (2 shots)
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LV Newsmen
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GV PAN Giscard d'Estaing and Costa Gomes inspect guard of honour
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Initials CL/0306 CL/0315



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Portugal's President Francisco da Costa Gomes arrived in Paris on Wednesday (4 June) on his first official overseas visit since taking office last year. He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Ernesto Melo Antunes and Foreign Trade Minister Jose Da Silva Lopes.

General Costa Gomes was greeted at Orly Airport by his French counterpart, President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, with full ceremonial military honours.

In a welcoming address, President Giscard d'Estaing assured the Portuguese leader that he would strive to improve the living conditions of the one million Portuguese workers in France and to bring Portugal closer to the European Common Market.

These two issues -- together with Portugal's role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation -- are expected to be the main topic for discussion during General Costa Gomes' four-day visit to France.

Portugal-- which had a balance of payments deficit of GBP275 million sterling (632 million U.S. dollars) last year -- has asked the Common Market for urgent talks on financial, agricultural and economic aid.