MESSAGE TO 6th SESSION OF E. C. A.
We extend our most sincere welcome and
warmest greetings to all the delegates and observers who have come to our
Capital City of Addis Ababa to attend the Sixth Session of the Economic
Commission for Africa.
We attach great importance to your present
meeting because you are today gathered for the first time since the adoption of
the historic Charter of African Unity in May of last year here in Addis Ababa.
This Charter is a truly becoming symbol of the coming of age of our great
continent, and your deliberations will be inspired by the same noble spirit as
inspired the historic Summit Conference of African States.
The Heads of State and Government made a
united resolve that we should pool our resources and harmonize our activities
in the economic field.
To this end an Economic and Social Commission of O.A.U. has been
established, and We are pleased to see that already in its meeting the
Commission has come up with important recommendations regarding in particular
co-ordination of effort between ECA and the new Economic Com-mission of African
Unity.
We consider the two commissions to be complementary in character, and We
feel that jointly they can play an important role in the vast and urgent task
of economic development and co-ordination.
In this respect We have been interested to note that your agenda
provides for the study and consideration of the creation of an African Common
Market and Payments Union. These are vital steps in the process of African economic
integration and your work here in this Conference can make a positive
contribution towards the attainment of these common objectives.
It is only through economic co-operation and co-ordination of effort
that African states can hope to maintain and strengthen their independence
while ensuring the rapid progress of their peoples.
In order to achieve this common goal of strength through progress, it
becomes necessary for us to abandon once and for all petty differences and
artificial barriers that tend to perpetuate a state of division and confusion
between our countries.
Objectives
We should instead jointly strive for those objectives that will enable
us to be strong and united.
Let us therefore leave aside all misguided aims and groundless ambitions
that can only lead us into wasteful and time-consuming conflicts.
Let us instead
mobilize our resources for our common good and for the good of our great
continent.
This is the heartfelt desire of African peoples everywhere, and it is
the duty of us all always to bear this in mind and to strive for its full and
final achievement.
Another event of vital importance which you should keep well in mind
during this Session is the forthcoming UN Conference on Trade and Development
which will be held in Geneva next month.
Our continent relies greatly on external trade for its development and
economic progress, and it is important that you should make every effort at
this Session to harmonise the trade and economic policies of your respective
Governments with a view to putting a strong and united case at the Geneva
meeting.
We wish to express our confidence that the Economic Commission for
Africa and its Secretariat will continue to afford to our Governments the
service and assistance that would enable us to fulfil the basic targets of the
United Nations Decade of Development.
We are pleased once again to reiterate our continued interest in the
work of your Commission and our belief in its contribution to a greater
understanding of Africa’s Economic problems.
We earnestly pray to Almighty God to guide you in His wisdom through all
your work and deliberations.
Feb. 20, 1964.
Selected
Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 257 –
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