INTERVIEWED BY YUGOSLAV PRESS
During our recent visit, with President
Nasser of the United Arab Republic We exchanged views on the utilization of the
Nile Waters. It was clearly understood by all that the resources of the Nile
are adequate for the needs of all the riparian states, provided of course that
there is consultation and agreement between them. We were able to inform
President Nasser that We have Our own plans for the utilization of the Blue
Nile River. It is Our impression that President Nasser fully understands Our
position on this question.
On our part a study is under way for the
development of the Nile basin, and it is expected that construction will start
in the vicinity of Lake Tana in the very near future. The study is being
conducted by a team of experts from various countries. The extent of the
benefit to accrue for Ethiopia from the utilization of the Nile waters can best
be judged from the benefits already being drawn from this river by both Sudan
and the United Arab Republic.
Our
relations with Yugoslavia in general and in the fields of economic cooperation
and exchange of trade in particular have developed rapidly. To cite two among
the many projects which we have been able to develop with the assistance
provided by the Yugoslav Government by credit and technical assistance are the
port of Assab and a survey of the Water Resources of Ethiopia. It is Our
expectation that these relations and collaboration between Yugoslavia and
Ethiopia will further develop for the mutual benefit of our two peoples.
During Our recent visit to the USSR, We
felt that the people and Government of that country sincerely desired peace.
This impression has been confirmed also by what the Authorities have declared
to Us.
It is our hope that efforts for peace
would not confine themselves to verbal statements, but would work out in the
actual relations between the nations of the world.
We have also been deeply impressed by the
vast resources of the country and the industry and diligence of the people.
As to the question regarding trade and
cooperation between Ethiopia and Communist nations, problems of communication
and geographical location can stand in the way of development. But trade relations
have already been commenced with some of these countries, and a certain amount
of development can be anticipated.
Regarding the expansion of Communism in
the Middle East, you are in a better position to assess the situation than We
are. We are happy about the resumption of diplomatic relations between UAR and
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, since it would ease some of the tension that
exists in the Middle East, and pave the way for closer cooperation.
Regarding the recent appointments in the
Iraq Government, We would consider this an internal matter of that Government,
and would no like to express any opinion, since We believe in the principles of
non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations.
Eisenhower- Khrushchev Meeting
The
forthcoming meeting between President Eisenhower and Premier Khrushchev may
well thaw the cold war and become a step on the road to peace, for which the
whole world yearns deeply, and therefore it is a very significant event in the history
of our decade. We welcome this meeting. However, it has to be stated quite
categorically that no ultimate solution can be arrived at without all the
nations who are members of the U.N. organization participating in it. The
mistakes of the Congress of Berlin and of Yalta are not to be repeated. The
small nations, having also committed themselves to the principles and Charter
of the United Nations, would expect the big powers to adhere to those
principles of self-determination for small and big nations and to the channels
of negotiations, which have been established in our age after great sacrifices.
The main impression that We have gathered
from Our recent visit to many countries in Africa and Europe, is that all
people are primarily desirous of working in peace to improve their standards of
living. Since peace is the basic requirement for the peoples of the world to
cooperate among themselves for the betterment of their lives, it becomes an
imperative duty of the leaders of nations, as We have often stated, to make
striving for peace the primary objective of their national and international
policy. We would like to reaffirm Our strong conviction that the principles of
coexistence enunciated at the historic conferences of Bandung and Accra should
form a major basis in international relations.
Ethio-Yugoslav Relations
We
have been pleased by the development of the close friendship and collaboration
between Ethiopia and Yugoslavia, during the past years, which have, as is
known, yielded valuable results to both nations. Since it is Our fervent desire
to see the development and strengthening of this collaboration in various
fields, We shall strive harder towards this objective. The friendship between
Ethiopia and Yugoslavia bears eloquent testimony to the possibility of nations
with different political systems cooperating in facing their common problems
and working together towards world peace.
We remember how, during Our previous visit
to Yugoslavia five years ago, the people of this country gave warm expression
to their feelings of friendship towards Ourselves and Our people. During the
present visit also, the heartfelt welcome extended to Us by the peoples of the
Slovenian and Croation Republics, has manifested to Us genuinity of their
goodwill towards Us and Our people. We have not only experienced the
hospitality of the people, but have also observed with admiration the priority
given to, and the progress achieved in the field of industrial development.
This achievement assures Us that the people of Yugoslavia, under the able
leadership of His Excellency President Tito, would, in the near future, attain
an even greater degree of development and welfare.
Sept. 9, 1959.
Selected
Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 166 –
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