SECTION 86

Relationships of Member States with other groups and third States 1. Member States may join other regional or sub-regional groups or conclude individual agreements with other Members or non-Member States provided that the joining of such groups or the agreements concluded with third States are not incompatible with the provisions of this Treaty. 2. Any Member State which is or becomes a member of other economic cooperation organizations shall inform the Secretary-General and transmit to him the instruments establishing such organizations. The Secretary-General shall notify the Council. 3. Rights and obligations under agreements concluded before the definitive entry into force of this Treaty, shall not be affected by the provisions hereof. However, in the event of such agreements being incompatible with this Treaty, the Member State(s) concerned shall make every appropriate effort to eliminate the incompatibilities. Member States shall, if necessary, assist one another to achieve this aim and shall, if necessary, adopt a common position. 4. In the implementation of the agreements referred to in paragraph 1 of this article, Member States shall take into account that the benefits granted in this Treaty by each Member State are an integral part of the establishment of the Community and are therefore indissolubly linked with the establishment of common institutions, the granting of powers to them and the granting of the same benefits by all the other Member States. 5. The Community shall maintain with the Organization of African Unity, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and other intergovernmental organizations of the sub-region relations likely to enhance the implementation of this Treaty.