Eshkol Reports on Visit to Africa; Invited to Six More Countries

Prime Minister Levi Eshkol reported at the weekly meeting of Israel’s Cabinet here today that his official visit to seven African countries, from which he returned Friday, created such an impression on the African continent that six more African lands have now invited him to visit them.

Mr. Eshkol had paid visits to the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Congo (Leopoldville), Madagascar, Uganda, Kenya and Senegal. All of the governments and many of the people in those countries, he reported, had shown extreme friendship to him and his official party.

The Premier said he had discussed with most of the heads of state whom he met on his tour a number of general problems of international interest, including such questions as the need for reduction of armaments. He had also talked with various government leaders in Africa of plans for the expansion of international education against discrimination and racism, along the principles approved by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Those UNESCO plans had been initiated in the U.N. body by Israel.

In discussing Israel’s activities on the African continent, Mr. Eshkol told the Cabinet he would convene here soon a meeting of all groups, both governmental and private, interested in the expansion of Israel’s cooperation with African countries. That meeting, he said, would discuss broad cooperation in Israel by both the Government and the private organizations for the coordination of Israeli activities in Africa.

Just prior to Mr. Eshkol’s Cabinet report on his African tour, the Mekorot Water Co., Ltd., Israel’s public utility for the supply of water, announced it will launch a $20,000,000 water development project in Kenya, constructing various facilities there in the next three years in connection with the project. Zvi Tsur, the company’s managing director, left today for Kenya and the Ivory Coast to implement the project.