Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman signed an agreement last week between Israel and the 15-member Economic Community of West African States during an official visit to Nigeria, part of a weeklong African tour.

Three of the community’s member states — Guinea, Mali and Niger — do not have diplomatic relations with Israel.

The cooperation agreement is in the fields of education, agriculture, culture and economic relations.

A pact between the West African organization and the Israel Center for International Cooperation was also signed; it calls for Israel and the African nations to work together to reduce poverty and preserve and protect the environment. — jta