REPLY TO CZECHOSLOVAK PRESIDENT
We are deeply grateful for having been the
guest of the esteemed President and his wife as well as of the leading
representatives of the Czechoslovak Government. We are specially gratified, to
extend to you, Mr. President, and through you to the Czechoslovak people our
gratitude for the cordial and friendly reception accorded us throughout our
stay in this hospitable country.
Our
stay in this friendly country has enabled us to become acquainted with several
aspects of the life of this country, to appreciate your endeavours in the field
of social welfare, of education and the growing importance of your economic
development. We found them encouraging and instructive. The visits we made to
your industrial towns which enjoy a great reputation throughout the world,
filled us with admiration since we realized the obstacles the Czechoslovak
Republic had to overcome after the Second World War.
On many occasions we heard of the
diligence of the Czechoslovak people and we verified these words during our
short stay in this country.
Even though Ethiopia and Czechoslovakia
have different systems of government, both countries have several things in
common. For many long years both had to fight for the preservation of their
independence – very dear to them. Not long ago though both had to rebuke the
attack by fascist forces. Both of our countries, placing their trust in the
system of Collective Security, had appealed to the League of Nations to stop
the aggression launched against them. To satisfy insatiable fascism, the
freedom of Ethiopia was sacrificed, while in Europe Czechoslovakia was placed
at the mercy of military expansion. At the time when the League of Nations
applied sanctions against the fascist invaders in Ethiopia, Czechoslovakia and
Rumania were among those countries which fully observed the sanctions.
However, even at the time of defeat our
two countries, without abandoning hope and submitting to the enemy occupation,
again fought for their independence.
In the post war period both our countries,
which have adopted the principles of the United Nations Charter, and the
conferences in Bandung and Accra, have worked untiringly for the preservation
of world peace and for the freedom of all oppressed nations. Even though
Ethiopia and Czechoslovakia have different systems of government both our
countries, abiding by the principle of the United Nations Charter and the
declarations signed in Bandung and Accra, co-operate in the economic, social
and cultural fields.
On this occasion we wish to express our
thanks to the Czechoslovak Government for granting credits for purchase of
medical equipment and for the releasing of medical personnel for our hospitals.
We
are convinced that the firm ties of friendship binding our two countries will
be a foundation for the development of closer economic and fruitful
co-operation, making possible the utilization of our natural and industrial
resources. We are also convinced that this friendship will serve the
development of mutual co-operation also in the diplomatic and cultural fields.
We firmly believe that our visit will serve to further strengthen the ties of
friendship which exist between our two countries.
July 16, 1959.
Selected
Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 121 –
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