TO VISITING JOURNALISTS
I am glad to receive you here this morning.
I am happy that you had this opportunity to come to Our country to see some of
our development projects. I hope that during your brief sojourn in Ethiopia,
you had a chance to observe what has been done with the assistance of the
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank) and by
other multilateral assistance which had been given us.
As you have heard,
We had launched a series of Five- Year Plans and some of these have been
successfully completed. One such plan is now underway. These Five-Year Plans
have been envisaged to improve the standard of living of Our people. With the
enthusiastic participation of a broad mass of the people, marked progress has
been achieved.
I hope you have found the places you
visited interesting – some are historical places and some are areas where
development projects have been inaugurated to raise the standard of living of
Our people. While We are proud of what has been achieved so far, nevertheless,
We recognize that there is much yet to be done and We have yet to travel a lot
before We get full satisfaction. I wish you had the opportunity to stay longer
and travel more extensively in the country.
As you know, Ethiopia is a big country;
there are more than 22 million people. I am confident that from what you have
seen so far, you will be able to judge for yourselves the nature of the general
pattern of progress in the country.
In reply to a question concerning “the
greatest obstacle to the development rate you would like to achieve,” His
Imperial Majesty said:
I believe that one of the greatest factors
to a higher rate of economic development in any country, including Ethiopia, is
the availability of financial resources. No country can lift up itself by its
own bootstraps. In order to achieve a high rate of development, all developing
countries must acquire assistance from abroad. That is why we have established
co-operation with the World Bank and secured bilateral and multilateral
assistance.
In addition to these, I believe that for a
developing country to achieve a high rate of development, it must attract
foreign investment. Appropriate laws have been enacted in Ethiopia to encourage
foreign investment.
Investment Protected
I remember that
when I paid a state visit to the United States a few years ago, some persons
expressed concern about investing in our country because of apprehension of expropriation
in one form or another and fear of nationaliza- tion. I assured at that same
time some U.S. Congressmen, officials and private individuals that apprehension
was unfounded and that any foreign capital in Ethiopia would always be
protected by the State. I am glad to say that those who were then suspicious
are now beginning to recognize the true situation prevailing in Ethiopia.
Although not adequate by any standard, yet
it is satisfactory to note that there is an increasing interest on the part of
private enterprise to invest in Ethiopia.
In a reply to a Canadian journalist about
the Emperor's forthcoming state visit to Canada, His Imperial Majesty said:
Upon the invitation extended to me by the Governor-General of Canada, I will
visit that country for the third time in the spring. In my previous visits to
Canada, I had the opportunity to experience at first hand the sentiments the
Canadian Government and people entertain towards Our people and Government. My
third visit, which is occasioned by the 1967 Exhibition – in which Ethiopia is
fully participating – will provide me with a further opportunity to strengthen
the friendly relations that already exist between Canada and Ethiopia.
Among the group of journalists was Dr. F.
E. Aschinger, the senior financial editor of the Neue Zurcher Zeitung of
Switzerland, who told the Emperor during the course of the audience that he had
the opportunity to hear Him address the League of Nations in 1936 in Geneva
during the Fascist invasion.
Dr. Aschinger said: I had opportunity to be present during Your address
to the League of Nations in 1936 when the Fascists invaded Your country. I had
the good opportunity then to witness Your courage and determination, in the
face of adversity, in the cause of Your people and the freedom of mankind in
general as well as collective security. I am very pleased to see today the same
determination and vitality in the cause of world peace and collective security.
I wish Your Majesty good health to continue your excellent work for the
progress of Your people and for the people of the world.
In reply His Imperial Majesty said: I am very pleased to see here today
some one who was at Geneva during those dark days. As you pointed out, I have
not stopped labouring for the progress of My people and My efforts for world
peace shall never cease. I accept your good wishes.
Feb. 4, 1967.
Selected
Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 690 –
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