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| Haile Selassie the First - July 17, 1962 |
No development in the modern world has been so startling or has
produced such far-reaching results in so short a time as has the revolution
in the field of communications which the 20th century has witnessed.
Only a few decades ago, travel from one quarter of the globe to another
was a month-long process. Battles continued in wars, when peace had
already been declared between the combattant nations.
How different is the situation in 1962 . Today, man's voice flashes around
the earth in split seconds. Distance and time have been annihilated. The
most recent events in any part of the world are immediately known
thousands of miles away. Moreover, times in which we live have
witnessed man's success in his endeavour to reach the moon and the stars.
Few nations have been as deeply affected by the revolution in
communications and transport as Ethiopia. Our high mountain fortress,
which for so many years stood as a bulwark between Ethiopia and the
outside world, has only been breached within the memory of men who live
today, but the changes wrought are deep and their impact far-reaching.
The technology of the modern world has become more speedily available
to us as modern facilities for the communication of ideas and the transport
of men and material have reached into Ethiopia.
The ceremony in which We participate today stands as testimony to the
vitally important role which air transport has played in Ethiopia in the past
15 years and as a promise for the ever-increasing contribution which this
mode of transportation will contribute to the well-being of Ethiopia and
Our beloved people in the future. It has also been gratifying to us to note
that Our young men who were given training in aviation here since the
past 15 years have been very promising. Thanks to air transportation, the
agricultural produce of our nation has moved into the export market from
areas hitherto inaccessible except over remote and hazardous mountain
trails. Thanks to air transportation, goods and materials have moved into
outlying regions of Our Empire, thus providing Our people with the basis
for an ever-increasing standard of living, exciting their imagination and
encouraging them to seek yet further means of improving their way of life.
Air transportation has enabled Ethiopia to become better acquainted not
only with here neighbours, but with the peoples of other continents, and
We are proud that Ethiopian Airlines has been the first African carrier to
span the broad expanse between Eastern and Western Africa. We have
signed agreements with various African and European countries providing
the widest measure of rights to the Ethiopian Air Lines.
produced such far-reaching results in so short a time as has the revolution
in the field of communications which the 20th century has witnessed.
Only a few decades ago, travel from one quarter of the globe to another
was a month-long process. Battles continued in wars, when peace had
already been declared between the combattant nations.
How different is the situation in 1962 . Today, man's voice flashes around
the earth in split seconds. Distance and time have been annihilated. The
most recent events in any part of the world are immediately known
thousands of miles away. Moreover, times in which we live have
witnessed man's success in his endeavour to reach the moon and the stars.
Few nations have been as deeply affected by the revolution in
communications and transport as Ethiopia. Our high mountain fortress,
which for so many years stood as a bulwark between Ethiopia and the
outside world, has only been breached within the memory of men who live
today, but the changes wrought are deep and their impact far-reaching.
The technology of the modern world has become more speedily available
to us as modern facilities for the communication of ideas and the transport
of men and material have reached into Ethiopia.
The ceremony in which We participate today stands as testimony to the
vitally important role which air transport has played in Ethiopia in the past
15 years and as a promise for the ever-increasing contribution which this
mode of transportation will contribute to the well-being of Ethiopia and
Our beloved people in the future. It has also been gratifying to us to note
that Our young men who were given training in aviation here since the
past 15 years have been very promising. Thanks to air transportation, the
agricultural produce of our nation has moved into the export market from
areas hitherto inaccessible except over remote and hazardous mountain
trails. Thanks to air transportation, goods and materials have moved into
outlying regions of Our Empire, thus providing Our people with the basis
for an ever-increasing standard of living, exciting their imagination and
encouraging them to seek yet further means of improving their way of life.
Air transportation has enabled Ethiopia to become better acquainted not
only with here neighbours, but with the peoples of other continents, and
We are proud that Ethiopian Airlines has been the first African carrier to
span the broad expanse between Eastern and Western Africa. We have
signed agreements with various African and European countries providing
the widest measure of rights to the Ethiopian Air Lines.
Owing so much to air transport, and expecting such significant rewards
from its further expansion, it is only fitting that Our nation should possess
the most modern air facilities. The installations which are under
construction and for which We today dedicate the commemoration stone
will permit and encourage the further development of air travel and
transport both within Ethiopia and abroad. Although We are physically
present only in Addis Ababa Our action today should be regarded as
symbolically touching the new air installations being constructed at
Asmara, at Dire Dawa, at Jimma and Bahr Dar as well.
These facilities are being financed by loans negotiated with the
Development Loan Fund of the Government of the United States of
America, and We are grateful for this assistance. We must, however, also
recognize that the indebtedness thus incurred constitutes a heavy burden
for Our Government and people, and we must be assiduous to insure that
the moneys We are investing will earn a proper return. Exports must be
increased, tourists and other visitors must be encouraged to come to
Ethiopia Airlines services must be expanded, and all measures required to
ensure that its operations continue to be safe and efficient must be taken.
In short, a co-ordinated effort calculated to accelerate the growth of air
transport within Ethiopia as well as between Ethiopia and her neighbours in
Africa, Asia and Europe must be undertaken and pressed to completion.
We call upon all whose responsibilities lie in this field to redouble their
efforts.
We express thanks to the Minister of Public Works and Communications,
to the Department of Civil Aviation, to Ethiopian Airlines, to the firms
engaged in the construction of these installations, and to all those whose
efforts have contributed to the work which We see in progress before Us.
We look forward t the day when these works will be completed and when
Ethiopia's commercial aviation arm will have truly entered the modern jet
age.
from its further expansion, it is only fitting that Our nation should possess
the most modern air facilities. The installations which are under
construction and for which We today dedicate the commemoration stone
will permit and encourage the further development of air travel and
transport both within Ethiopia and abroad. Although We are physically
present only in Addis Ababa Our action today should be regarded as
symbolically touching the new air installations being constructed at
Asmara, at Dire Dawa, at Jimma and Bahr Dar as well.
These facilities are being financed by loans negotiated with the
Development Loan Fund of the Government of the United States of
America, and We are grateful for this assistance. We must, however, also
recognize that the indebtedness thus incurred constitutes a heavy burden
for Our Government and people, and we must be assiduous to insure that
the moneys We are investing will earn a proper return. Exports must be
increased, tourists and other visitors must be encouraged to come to
Ethiopia Airlines services must be expanded, and all measures required to
ensure that its operations continue to be safe and efficient must be taken.
In short, a co-ordinated effort calculated to accelerate the growth of air
transport within Ethiopia as well as between Ethiopia and her neighbours in
Africa, Asia and Europe must be undertaken and pressed to completion.
We call upon all whose responsibilities lie in this field to redouble their
efforts.
We express thanks to the Minister of Public Works and Communications,
to the Department of Civil Aviation, to Ethiopian Airlines, to the firms
engaged in the construction of these installations, and to all those whose
efforts have contributed to the work which We see in progress before Us.
We look forward t the day when these works will be completed and when
Ethiopia's commercial aviation arm will have truly entered the modern jet
age.
| Chapter XII |
| Bole International Airport Cornerstone Jul. 17, 1962 |
| Transportation & Communication |