Madagascar Prepares for Third INDIAN OCEAN INTER-ISLE Summit

ANTANANARIVO, July 13 (AFP) - Leaders from five Indian Ocean nations, including French President Jacques Chirac representing France's Reunion island, are to meet here next week for a summit of the Indian Ocean Committee (IOC), officials said Wednesday.

The meeting in Madagascar's capital will discuss measures aimed at boosting regional ties, including the free movement of goods between member states Madagascar, the Seychelles, the Comoros, Mauritius and Reunion, climate change and population growth, they said.

At least 1,000 participants are expected at the meeting alongside host President Marc Ravalomanana, presidents Azali Assoumani of the Comoros, James Michel of the Seychelles, Chirac and newly elected Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam of Mauritius.
The July 22 gathering will be the third heads of state summit since IOC's founding in 1984 with the first held in Madagascar in 1991 and last in 1999 on Reunion.

The leaders are expected to meet behind closed-doors before holding talks with Louis Michel, the European Union's commissioner on humanitarian and development aid on July 23.

At least 1,000 participants are expected at the meeting alongside host President Marc Ravalomanana, presidents Azali Assoumani of the Comoros, James Michel of the Seychelles, Chirac and newly elected Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam of Mauritius.

Received Wednesday, 13 July 2005 16:01:00 GMT

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