INAUGURATION OF ECONOMIC
COMMISSION FOR AFRICA
Inauguration
of the 1st Session of The United Nations Economic Commission for
Africa
...
Concerted action, co-operation, co-ordinated policies – these, honourable
delegates, are not just words, but great and noble conceptions. In them, and in
what they stand for, can be found the key to fulfilment of the longings and the
hopes of millions of Africans.
It is with great pleasure that We, on
behalf of Ourselves and Our beloved people, today extend Our warmest greetings
to the delegations of the Economic Commission for Africa who have gathered here
from all over this great continent, and, in particular, to The Honourable Dag
Hammerskjold, Secretary General of the United Nations, who is Our honoured
guest on this occasion. We welcome you all to Our capital.
The opening session of the United Nations
Economic Commission for Africa is truly a most historic and significant event
for the great African continent. But a short half-century ago, only the most
far-sighted individuals dared predict that within fifty years Africa would have
so far progressed along the path of political and economic progress that a
conference such as this, where representatives of nine independent African
nations, as well as representatives of several other African countries have
gathered together in solemn conclave to consider the common problems of Africa
and the African peoples, would be possible. And yet this has come to pass, and
today we are assembled here for this very purpose. Our heart overflows in the attainment of this moment.
Only a few years ago, meetings to consider African problems were held
outside of Africa, and the fate of its peoples was decided by non-Africans.
Today, the tradition of Berlin and Algeciras has been repudiated, and it is
thanks to the Conferences of Accra and now of Addis Ababa that the peoples of
Africa can, at long last, deliberate on their own problems and future.
Striking Evolution
The political growth of the peoples of Africa, a development which has
come to fruition within the lifetime of every one of us here present, is one of
the most striking and extraordinary evolutions in the recorded history of man.
The political coming of age of the African peoples is ample testimony that we
are witnessing the inauguration of a new and splendid period in this
continent’s history. The number of African states which now enjoy their
independence is only nine, but this number will grow in the future. In 1960,
additional states will emerge into the brilliant sun of freedom, clear evidence
that the political growth, which in a few short years has transformed the
status of so great a number of the African peoples, has not yet finished, and
that it will not come to its end until the goal toward which this movement has
steadily and inexorably progressed has been totally realized.
Political independence, however, is but one part of the complex of
problems which face the African peoples in their struggles to achieve their
rightful place in the world. It is potentially the richest of continents, large
numbers of her people still lead an existence that can only be regarded as
sub-standard. A major cause of this lag in Africa’s economic development has
been the lack of education of her peoples. Let us not be too proud to face
these facts and to recognize Africa’s deficiencies and defects. Let us face
honestly and frankly the fact that by the standards of the modern world, the
African peoples today are poor. Our poverty need not cover us with shame.
Africa, despite the predominantly agricultural basis of her economy, produces
only a small percent of the world’s foodstuffs. Indeed, Africa produces
scarcely enough food to support her own peoples. The average wage of the
African worker compares unfavourably with that of other areas of the world. The
average African may, if fate has smiled upon him, receive the minimum amount of
nourishment necessary for physical survival, but rarely more.
Freedom Was Absent
Among the reasons for the poverty and hard life of the African peoples
must be numbered the fact that heretofore most Africans have not enjoyed the
freedom which they are now attaining. In addition, the lack of the capital
essential to the development of their economies and the shortage of technically
qualified personnel have severely limited Africa’s capacity for economic
growth.
But, just as we must not be too proud to recognize the facts of Africa’s
economic situation as it exists today, so we must not be cast down or
discouraged by the magnitude of the problems which face us. For Africa is
potentially rich. She has enormous deposits of raw materials, and the total
extent of her wealth is by no means yet known. Africa produces large quantities
of several of the world’s basic minerals and metals. She produces large
quantities of various agricultural products such as palm oil and cocoa. The
fertility of much of her land is potentially high in the extreme. A tremendous
potential for the production of hydro-electric power and the irrigation of her
land is found in the lakes and rivers of this great continent.
The vista that opens before the Economic Commission for Africa in
fulfilling the weighty responsibilities laid upon it by the United Nations
General Assembly is vast. The tasks are immense. Much labour and toil will be
demanded, not only from those who will constitute the permanent organization,
but also from the governments of all countries and territories in fulfilling
the commitments and discharging the responsibilities resting upon its members
and associate members. The economies of the African states have too long
existed as separate, self-contained, isolated entities. African countries have
for too long been forced to nurse their own economies and puzzle out their
complicated problems by themselves, or else have them handled haphazardly for
them by others. We are all only too well acquainted with the difficulties and
barriers that the African peoples have had to overcome in coming together to
deliberate on matters of common interest. But it is impossible to believe that
individual countries, working alone and isolated from their neighbours, can
ever achieve their objectives, and the African peoples must therefore work and
co-operate together if the economic development of this continent is to be
furthered.
Ethiopia’s Experience
The Ethiopian people in particular, long isolated socially and
geographically, have had to plough a lonely furrow in many fields of economic
endeavour, lacking the right and the facility to draw upon the experience and
knowledge of others who were attempting to solve almost identical problems.
Now, however, as almost every paragraph in the Charter of this Commission
emphasizes, the goal on which Our eyes have always been fixed as a primary goal
for Our people – the raising of their standard of living – has become the declared
objective of the Governments of the member-states whose representatives are
gathered here today, to be sought, in every way, by concerted action. Concerted
action, co-operation, co-ordinated policies – these, honourable delegates, are
not just words, but great and noble conceptions. In them, and in what they
stand for, can be found the key to fulfilment of the longings and the hopes of
millions of Africans.
Our task, the task of all gathered here and of those other African
countries who are not numbered among the representatives at this first session
of the Economic Commission for Africa, is to improve the economic lot of all
African peoples, to raise them to a standard of living comparable to that
enjoyed in the most highly-developed regions of the world today. This is a task
and a challenge which must be met. And because this touches all of us, all must
labour and work for success in this endeavour.
When the Commission comes to consider specific problems in the course of
its deliberations, We ardently hope that it will give serious consideration to
finding ways and means of extending immediate economic assistance not only to
all African nations which are in need of such aid, but, as well, to those
territories which are on the threshold of independence. It must constantly be
borne in mind that the economic problems of some of the younger African states
and of those areas which are on the verge of statehood are most pressing and
serious. The United Nations Organization and the older States are, consequently,
under a grave moral obligation to alleviate the economic difficulties of these
young States and territories, and to help them found their economic structure
upon a firm basis that will maintain and assure their political independence.
Political and economic progress should go hand in hand.
Practical Steps
There are other grave and important matters to which We trust the
Commission will not fail to direct its attention. Among these are the
implications of the involvement of African nations in regional preferential
trade agreements with nations of other continents. The Commission could well
take concrete steps to explore the possibilities of establishing statistical
bureaux where none now exist, and of co-ordinating and unifying the statistical
methodology to be employed in common by all member states. A programme of close
co-operation between the Commission and the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization to study the possibilities of increasing food production in areas
where people are under-nourished, and of wiping out cattle disease, problems of
great importance to African countries whose economies are predominantly
agricultural, would fulfil a long-felt need.
In view of the great influence of public health problems upon the
economic development of African countries, the exploration and recommendation
of solutions to such problems by the Commission, in collaboration with the
World Health Organization, would aid immeasurably in accelerating the tempo of
the economic development of the African continent. All African countries depend
on their export trade and a manifest need exists for the promotion, stabilization
and diversification of exports of the ECA member countries. The Commission
should give serious consideration to the prevalent transportation and
communication problems which have a considerable influence upon the development
of all African countries, and seek resolutely to find solutions to the
difficulties which perplex us all in these fields. Solving these problems would
contribute much toward the economic development of Africa. In undertaking such
a study, due consideration should be given to the desirability of establishing
closer connections between the various national transportation systems, thus
encouraging closer economic and commercial relations among member states.
It is appropriate that this gathering today is held under the
sponsorship of the United Nations. The United Nations is a living and tangible
testimony to the value of co-operative efforts among all men to improve their
way of life and preserve peace. We believe that the African peoples, too, can
co-operate effectively for the common good, for their own good and for that of
all men. But this requires single-mindedness and an unswerving devolution to
the cause of Africa and the African peoples. In your work, you must take into
your hearts and be guided by the principle expressed in the Holy Scripture
“Love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Draw Upon Lessons
Africa is not the first geographical area to be embraced by a regional
Economic Commission. This We do not consider a disadvantage, since the
experience gained and the lessons learnt by its predecessors in Europe, Latin
America and Asia and the Far East can be drawn upon. But many of the economic
and social problems are new, and the paths untrodden. In your task of finding
the answers and the way, honourable delegates, not only the eyes of all Africa
but of all the world will be upon you. We, for Our part, pledge the highest
endeavours of Our Government and people in aiding and speeding your work, not
only for this meeting of the Commission, but for the efforts and objectives of
this organization in the years that are to come. May Almighty God prosper that
work, and grant that it may be pursued in peace, in peace of mind and of
circumstance unhindered by the fact or threat of war.
This land, of which you are the honoured guests, has known and suffered
from the horrors and brutalities of war. The threats of armed conflict, the
obsession with war and armed might, are evils yet to be eradicated from the
minds of men. So long as they survive, progress towards the high and noble
objectives to which this organization is dedicated will be handicapped and
enveloped in darkness. In the mobilization of economic resources, in the search
for ways to improve the lot of man, whether African or not, the threat to peace
stands as a grim obstacle. The essential prerequisite for economic and social
contentment is world peace, and without such contentment, the weeds of
discontent luxuriate, and threats to peace develop.
We pray that peace may be vouchsafed to all men, that the labours of
this Commission may ever be conducted in an atmosphere of harmony and
co-operation.
Dec. 29, 1958.
Speeches delivered by His
Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie Ist Emperor of Ethiopia on various occasions -
page 99 - &
Selected Speeches of His
Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie - page 192 –
 |
| Secretary-General
Dag Hammarskjöld greeting His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie
I. At centre back is Mr. Mekki Abbas, Executive Secretary of ECA. 29 December 1958 - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
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