Belgium's foreign policy is largely embedded in the external action of the European Community. Besides, the unity of action of the nine memberstates in maior issues of international polities corresponds to a deliberate option of the Belgian government. In the debates of the North-South Dialogue (Conference on International Economic Cooperation and32nd General Assembly of the U.N.) and in the Belgrade conference, Belgium has endeavoured to promote a common stand by the nine member-states. During the term of its EC presidency, Belgium has forwarded the proceedings concerning the extension of the community, the relations with the Comecon, and - on the level of political cooperation - the defi,nition of the Nine's position on Southern Africa. The events in Shaba (Zaïre) have led Belgium to reaffirm the particular place Africa holds in its cooperation policy