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| Selected Speeches |
| The Church of Haile Selassie I, Inc. |
| Chapter III |
| Inter-Africa |
| Message To 6th Session of Economic Commission For Africa Feb. 20, 1964 |
| Selected Speeches |
| Haile Selassie the First - February 20, 1964 |
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 tme 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
Commission 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.
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 tme 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
Commission 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 objectivese 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 resoures 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.
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 resoures 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.
| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |
| Ba Beta Kristiyan Haile Selassie I |