14.05. - 1 - Speech Of The Day - WOOLEN FACTORY

Important Utterances of H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I - page 63 -

12.05. - 1 - Speech Of The Day - TO KING HUSSEIN

TO KING HUSSEIN

It is for Us a great pleasure to welcome Your Majesty to Our Court and in this way to manifest to the great and friendly nations of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Our sentiments of sincere friendship.

For countless centuries, as the annals of history so well attest, the people of Jordan have occupied a central and important position in the Middle East. Faced with the manifold challenges which that situation has so constantly presented, the people of Jordan have always produced leaders worthy of those trials and of the responsibilities which their central geographical position entails.

This reflection is no less appropriate in the present and troubled hours of world history than it was during the earlier years of this century. It is significant that the people of Jordan have always been found on the side of freedom and independence for all peoples of the area and have, at the same time, under their leaders, never relaxed their efforts in the defence of their own freedom and independence. Today, the Armed Forces under the command of Your Majesty and whose military traditions and prowess have gained renown throughout the Middle East, stand as sentinel of order and as a powerful influence for the maintenance of peace as well as for the defence of national independence and territorial integrity. Ethiopia who has shared a similar military tradition, applauds the resolute and distinguished role played by the Armed Forces of Jordan in the defence of the latter’s independence, territory and national heritage.

Your Majesty’s role as a courageous leader of a courageous people who, at the same time, have extended their hospitality to countless refugees, evokes Our admiration and that of Our people.

All of these distinguished national traditions and achievements find themselves exemplified in the person of Your Majesty whose intelligence, courage, statesmanship and leadership have earned universal esteem for the nation of Jordan and its Sovereign.

We are, consequently, most gratified that Your Majesty’s State visit to Ethiopia and to Our Court has thus served and will serve further to strengthen the already firm friendship and understanding existing between Jordan and Ethiopia.

We shall always remember with gratitude the visit that His late Majesty, Your illustrious grandfather paid to Us at Our Legation in London during Our exile, which was a consolation to Us.

This sympathy during the dark days of trial has descended to the Illustrious Heir and successor of His late Majesty. We therefore raise Our glass in a toast to His Majesty, Hussein I, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and to a long-lasting friendship between Our two nations and peoples.

May 12, 1960.

Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 123 –   

His Majesty King Hussein with HIM Emperor Haile Selassie I in a motorcade in Addis Ababa during the King's visit to Ethiopia.

11.05. - 1 - Speech Of The Day - INVESTITURE OF NEW PATRIARCH

Abuna Tewoflos

Important Utterances of H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I - page 267 -

10.05. - 1 - Speech Of The Day - CORNERSTONE OF THE ASSAB PORT

CORNERSTONE OF THE ASSAB PORT

We have chosen to come here today for the ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the construction of Our Port of Assab, not only in order to inspect the beginning of what is to be a great technical achievement, but also to commemorate a significant moment in the history of Modern Ethiopia, combining as it does progress in modernity with antiquity of tradition.

No Ethiopian of this or of future generations, can afford to forget the disadvantages under which Our country suffered in the days when we had no access to the sea. It has, therefore, long been the desire of Ethiopia to see her ports restored to the Motherland. In order to secure an outlet to the sea on these shores, We entered in 1928 into an agreement with the Government of Italy, but the agreement remained unhonoured, with no default on Our part.

God has ordained that this desire of Ethiopia be fulfilled during Our reign, and has crowned with success Our efforts to secure the re-integration of Eritrea and Ethiopia, which We undertook as soon as We, by the help of the Almighty, had returned to Our homeland and had completed the work of re-establishing and reorganizing Our Government under Our personal guidance and direction. For this Our gratitude to God is unbounded.

The trials and hardships to which Ethiopia had been subject in the days when she had no free outlet to the sea, qualify her in a special sense to appreciate the great importance of having a seaport of her own.

In laying the foundation stone of the Port of Assab, this historic gateway to the sea, connecting Our land with the oceans of the world, We are today opening for all the peoples of Our Empire a door to prosperity and good fortune of which they can be justly proud.

This port, connecting Ethiopia with the pulsating artery of world commerce, joins her in ties of trade with the shores of her friends and neighbours, and also brings her into free contact with the continents of the world. We stand on the renowned Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, through which pass, perhaps more ships than through any other stretch of water on our globe. Ethiopia, here in Assab, stands sentinel to aid and assist the vast number of vessels which carry the life-blood of world commerce. She must therefore be fully conscious of her responsibility to work hard for the development of her ports.

This uniquely strategic port of Ethiopia, after the trials and vicissitudes of nearly a century when it languished unattended and cut off from its motherland, has now been restored to her, and Ethiopia, in full realization of her high responsibility, has undertaken the great task of transforming Assab, into that outlet for Ethiopia’s sea-born products, which, by virtue of its unparalleled position on the trade routes of the world, it has so long deserved, and indeed demanded.

At the very instant of the long awaited return of Assab and Massawa, now five years ago, We declared:

In order to utilize to the maximum the resources of the two ports of Massawa and Assab, We have given orders that an ambitious programme of rehabilitation and improvement of the installations at Massawa and Assab should be undertaken. Moreover – and this has taken place well ahead of the date of the Federation of Eritrea with Ethiopia – We have already commenced important works for the repair and improvement of the roads linking these two ports with Eritrea and Ethiopia.

The first part of the ambitious programme has already been, under Our own direction, largely accomplished. Although the challenge of the work that is yet to be undertaken demands immense effort, We must not forget that much has already been achieved here, all of which may not be apparent to the casual visitor.

The more than 26 millions of Ethiopian Dollars which We are expending for the high engineering and technical exploits involved in the development programme of the Port of Assab, constitute already a direct and permanent investment in the future of the Port for which We today lay the foundation stone. This in itself is sufficient guarantee for the unhindered development of the port to meet the rapid expansion of Ethiopia’s economy which has characterized Our reign.

The expenditure of large sums of money and thousands of hours of engineering skill and re-examination by experts in engineering, in marine construction, in finance, in commerce, and, finally, many weeks of careful study and re-assesment by Ourselves of all the work that has been undertaken at Our command, have taken place in order to make possible this historic moment.

Following these careful studies, and after mature reflection on all aspects made by Our ends, the great and noble people of Yugoslavia, most advantageous to us in comparison with other similar proposals, both in terms of engineering genius and of financial facilities, We have accordingly, chosen to entrust this vastly significant task of constructing the port of Assab, to the Yugoslav people.

We would not let this auspicious occasion pass without Our expressing to His Excellency Marshal Josip Broz Tito, President of Yugoslavia, Our thanks for the assistance he has rendered in bringing to fruition this co-operative venture, which shall always remain a symbol of our mutual friendship.

We are fully confident that the Port of Assab will respond fully to its high destiny and that a great future awaits to bless this undertaking.

It is essential, as We stated five years ago, that Massawa also be fully developed. The resources of Ethiopia, both present and potential, are manifestly adequate to permit the three ports of Massawa, Assab and Djibouti, to thrive together without rivalry in a spirit of collaboration and co-operation.

In thus providing the means for the continued growth of Ethiopia’s foreign trade, We have looked not only to the benefit of one particular region, but also to the welfare and prosperity of Ethiopia as a whole.

At the moment of the return to Ethiopia of Our loyal subjects along the Red Sea coast, We declared: “We will provide, by all possible means, for the welfare of the population of Eritrea.”

This promise We have always maintained and fulfilled in various practical ways.

Since God gives us to enjoy only those fruits which we cultivate with toil and sacrifice, We call upon all Our beloved subjects, in a spirit of national dedication, by their labours and devotion, to ensure that this Port, now to spring into existence, will prove worthy of its heritage and of its challenge.

May 10, 1958

Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 555 –   

08.05. - 2 - Speech Of The Day - AT AIR FORCE DISPLAY

AT AIR FORCE DISPLAY

Religion has long taught to have no grudges against others. We have no grudges against past enemies. And yet, we cannot forget the injustices perpetrated against the Ethiopian people. In the celebration of the last couple of days – marking the 25th anniversary of Ethiopia’s liberation – we have observed with satisfaction the display by our Armed Forces. And We praise the Lord Almighty for the presence amongst us of the patriots and exiles who survived the enemy’s ruthless man-hunt and victimization.

As it has been correctly stated earlier, Ethiopia fell an easy victim to external aggression because she lacked air power. Today We have witness that Ethiopia has an air power to reckon with. What took place today and what the Air Force is heading to accomplish, indeed furnishes a confidence in the future of the Ethiopian people.

Nevertheless the establishment of an air force is not sufficient in itself. We have assigned men to various positions of responsibility in the Ethiopian Air Force and it is up to these men to apply themselves diligently to the task of self- improvement. The rank and file and the Officers of the Ethiopian Air Force must work with the dedication their fathers and forefathers had shown in the past – the past in which all Ethiopians can take pride.

Through diligence, wisdom and labour, our forefathers have preserved the sovereignty of Our nation and the integrity of our country. The present as well as the future generation bears responsibility to follow the examples set in the past and to dedicate themselves for stability, progress and betterment of the Ethiopia of tomorrow. No arms, however big or however mighty, can provide solace to a nation. A nation finds comfort and the freedom of that nation is best protected through the sacrifice and patriotism of its people. We must put to the best use the rich heritage of our past for in that way, and in that way alone can We live to the highest standard set by our forefathers for the Ethiopian people.

Today, as We come to the close of the three-day celebrations, We thank God for all He has done for the Ethiopian people. We have witnessed the emergence of Ethiopia’s air power, the growth of her Navy, the strength of her land forces and above all, the will of her people to overcome all difficulties. We praise God for the progress We have already made and for the progress that is bound to be Ours tomorrow. The all-round development of Ethiopia and particularly the development of her Armed Forces and her economic resources unmistakably show the greatness of the Ethiopian people in going beyond and above individual gains and labour to the common good of all. We are the more happy to witness the progress and development that is taking place for through it the rights of all the people of Ethiopia are better protected and their future happiness is better assured. Join Us today in praying to God to give Us further strength to proceed along this useful course.

Some jested that Ethiopia fell victim to Fascist aggression in the short period of seven to eight months. But history has mocked the jesters by showing that those who laughed in mockery lost their battle for freedom in a matter of days only. The vital resources of a nation are, as we have already said, the people’s selfless dedication and vigilance to overcome difficulties – it is not the heavy armoury but the quality of the citizens that man it that matters. The Ethiopian people are now more assured than ever before of a brighter future. What gives form and substance to this assurance is the ever-existing vigilance of our people, the strength of Our Armed Forces, the progress achieved in the various fields of national endeavour and above all the unity of our people. This is not only a source of satisfaction but a source of honour too. This furnishes the living with hope for a better future. And the dead shall rest in peace for their sacrifice in defence of their country has been honoured.

Those that have fallen in the battle-field have sacrificed themselves so that Our future would be more secure. And we the living have the responsibility of living up to the sacrifice that they have made, and to this all Ethiopians must dedicate themselves. In all your undertakings through your career, base yourselves on greater knowledge, courage and determination. For, if you base yourselves upon these values, you shall not fail but you shall forever go from one victory to another. I thank all the hard-working members of the Air Force. May God bless you.

May 8, 1966

Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 610 –   

08.05. - 1 - Speech Of The Day - ASSAB REFINERY

ASSAB REFINERY

We have come here today to lay the cornerstone of an essential component in Ethiopia’s development structure. The construction of the Assab Oil Refinery marks the commencement of a bright new era in the history of Ethiopian economic development, an era which will surely witness Ethiopia’s full advent into the modern industrial age.

This great oil refinery may properly be termed Ethiopia’s first major heavy industrial project. Its importance to the further growth and expansion of Ethiopian industry in all its aspects cannot be over-estimated. Within a short time, Ethiopia will be entirely self-sufficient in the supply of refined petroleum products. The petroleum products are essential to the future growth and expansion of all sectors of the Ethiopian economy. Roads and road transport to the important agricultural centres of the nation can be expected to improve both in scope and efficiency as a result of this new project. Its success will lend further encouragement to the development of innumerable new and related industrial projects.

Here at Assab, the Refinery has already shown itself an important element in the burgeoning local economy. Thousands of workers have been employed and have learned vital new skills in the course of its construction. Increased shipping will utilize Assab’s modern port facilities, ensuring that Assab will continue its remarkable growth and prosperity of recent years. We hope that someday, God willing, we will strike oil in our country and will not be required to buy crude oil from other countries. Heavy drains on Ethiopia’s foreign exchange will be eliminated, as these requirements are reduced to those needed to provide the essential supply of crude oil and to maintain this refinery in proper working order. Although there are some technicians trained we need many trained personnel. As experience is obtained, Ethiopians will increasingly assume larger responsibilities for the administration and technical operation of this installation. The impact of the establishment of this installation is thus not single but multiple in its effects.

It was long argued that smaller nations such as Ethiopia could not support or justify the construction of complex and costly facilities such as that which rises before us. The contention, already disproved in theory, will soon be even more effectively rebutted in practice. The success which We are confident will mark the Assab refinery’s operations will spur Ethiopia to follow this example in other areas vital to the growth and self-sufficiency of the nation’s economy.

For the support and guidance which have led to the achievement of this important new industrial asset, We and Our people are deeply grateful. The U. S. S. R. Government, through the credit advanced for the financing of this project, have reaffirmed their sympathy in the deepest aspirations of Our people. The bonds between us have been strengthened as a result of our co-operation in this endeavour and we look forward to the successful broadening of this co-operation into many other areas of economic and technical advance. The magnificent accomplishments of the Soviet people in the development of heavy industry throughout the recent past provide a stirring example to Our people. A fine example of which is the Polytechnical Institute which is a source of knowledge presented to us by the Soviet Government.

We thank the Soviet engineers and technicians for the fine co-operation they have shown with Our people in building up this refinery.

It is our firm determination, and that of Our Government, that the full impact of modern industrial progress will be felt to the farthest corners of the Empire. All Ethiopians welcome the promise of this new industrial era. We and Our Government shall do all within our power to hasten the day when its full benefits are enjoyed by every Ethiopian.

We wish to thank His Excellency the Soviet Ambassador, Mr. A. Boudakov, for his sincere co-operation and great effort to bring about the conclusion of the construction Agreement of this petroleum refinery.

This refinery is but one of the significant steps in Ethiopia’s drive for a rapid industrialization, within the frame-work of modern Ethiopianism, for it answers in a convincing manner the aspirations of the nation to press forward in constructing on the foundations already laid an edifice worthy of its striving.

May 8, 1965

Selected Speeches of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie – page 572 –    &

Important Utterances of H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I - page 60 -

  

Assab Oil Refinery

07.05. - 1 - Speech Of The Day - MODERN ETHIOPIANISM

Important Utterances of H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I - page 57 -

GrafX by Mihlawhdh Faristzaddi