Mr. President,
Distinguished Heads of State and Government,
Distinguished Delegates,
On behalf of the Government and people of Ethiopia and on Our own, We
extend to you greetings and warmest welcome. We also welcome His
Excellency U Thant, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and We
should like to express Our appreciation to him for being here with us
despite his many and pressing international responsibilities that make heavy
demand on his time. The city of Addis Ababa and its people, which have
had the privilege of being host to the Heads of State and Government on
similar occasions in the past, welcome you once more with pride and
pleasure to your second home.
We are happy to note that the Seventh
Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government is being
convened in an atmosphere of increased understanding in Africa as well
as in the rest of the world. In various parts of the world, efforts are
being made to resolve some of the outstanding issues of our time by
negotiation and conciliation, based on the understanding and
accommodation of each other's interests. This new international climate
of understanding is a development of the utmost importance to the peace,
well-being and progress of mankind. It is, therefore, a golden
opportunity for all men of goodwill to help the movement attain such a
momentum as to make it bear the greatest possible result.
As we meet for the seventh time to
deliberate on matters of vital importance to our continent, we cannot
but be impressed by the fruits of our previous deliberations. We see these
results in the ever-increasing role our Organization is playing in
continental relations and the maturity with which it is conducting its
affairs. The past year has seen the implementation of some of the
principles and aims enshrined in the Charter of the Organization,
especially with respect to the lessening of tension among Member States
and the enhancement of the spirit of co-operation to seek solutions to
their common problems.
The internal crisis in Nigeria has
been completely resolved due to the perseverance of the Federal
Government and the firm belief of Members of our Organization in the
basic principles of our Charter. We must all be happy that this
challenge has been courageously and wisely met. In this connection,
We would like to beg the indulgence of the Assembly to thank the members
of the Consultative Committee on Nigeria for their contribution to the
resolution of this problem. Now that the crisis in Nigeria is over
it is our fervent hope it shall leave no after-effect among the members
of this family., We are convinced that it is in the interest of our
beloved peoples to begin a new era of close and fraternal co-operation
amongst all Member States by closing all aspects of crisis at this
Session.
Total Reconciliation
It gives Us great pleasure and
satisfaction to announce to the Assembly that total reconciliation was
attained today between Nigeria, on the one hand, and Tanzania, Zambia,
Ivory Coast and Gabon, on the other. We would like to thank many leaders
of the O.A.U and especially President Jomo Kenyatta for the laudable
efforts they have deployed to achieve reconciliation. We would also like
to congratulate President Nyerere, President Kaunda, General Yakubu
Gowon, head of the Federal Military government of Nigeria and the
Presidents of the Ivory Coast and Gabon for the understanding and
co-operation they have shown to make the reconciliation possible.
The restoration of brotherly
relations between the People's Republic of the Congo and the Democratic
Republic of the Congo is another achievement that we are all happy about.
A new chapter has also been opened by the understanding reached
between the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the Kingdom of Morocco.
The settlement of the border dispute between Algeria and Morocco has
ushered in a new era of understanding and co-operation for the mutual benefit
of the peoples of the two sister states and of the Maghreb region. The
signing of an agreement between Kenya and Ethiopia, demarcating their
common borders, is another example of what can be achieved by peaceful
means. It is in this light that We invite all the countries faced with
similar problems to emulate the above-mentioned examples as a basis for
solving their differences., One last example of co-operative effort
which has achieved a satisfactory result is the case of Equatorial
Guinea.. The assistance give by members of the Organization to
Equatorial Guinea, while admittedly not much, has nevertheless been
instrumental in meeting the initial difficulties of nationhood.
These achievements can serve as
testimony of our respect and adherence to the covenant we entered into
seven years ago, and it is only when we continue working along this
successful path that we have charted for ourselves, that the spirit and
aims of our Organization will be ever-more meaningful. Although it
cannot be said that all the above-mentioned peaceful settlements were
executed under the direct auspices of the Organization of African Unity,
it is, nevertheless, true, that it has been fundamentally concerned with
all those problems. Furthermore, the members of the Organization, in
reaching these settlements, have been guided by the principles of the
Charter, thus strengthening the Organization and cementing their
unity.
Turning Deaf Ear
While this past year has been a year
of co-operation and understanding among Member States, it has however
been one of frustrations and set-backs in our attack on colonialism and
racism. In Southern Africa, the pernicious alliance of colonialism and
racism has created problems of ominous dimension. Ian Smith and his
collaborators have consolidated their regime and have declared Zimbabwe
a so-called Rhodesian Republic. South Africa has elevated its inhuman
policy of racial discrimination and exploitation of the African people
and has extended its apartheid policy to the international territory of
Namibia. Portugal has intensified its colonial wars in Mozambique,
Angola and Guinea Bissau. The Western Powers, who unfortunately support
these regimes, have not, despite the avalanche of appeals from
freedom-loving peoples of the world, thus far ceased from rendering
material assistance to these regimes. As regards Portugal, despite the great
efforts Africa has exerted to persuade this Government to abandon its
colonial policy, the continued shedding of innocent blood has made the
colonial war not only the concern of Africa but also of the entire
world. In keeping, therefore, with the nature of the problems We cannot overemphasize
the need to devise a new method by which these powers could be persuaded
to desist from continuing such a policy, which is detrimental to the
peace and security of the continent.
It will be recalled that H.E. the
President of Cameroun presented the Lusaka Manifesto, on behalf of the
African States, to the Twenty-Fourth Session of the United Nations
General Assembly for its serious consideration and adoption. As you all
know this Manifesto was adopted by the overwhelming majority of the
General Assembly with the exception of South Africa and Portugal. The
rejection by the oppressors of the widely supported Manifesto showed the
depth of the abyss to which they have dragged themselves.
The conspiracy of colonial and racist
forces has gradually turned into a military pact, encompassing South
Africa, Rhodesia and Portugal. What then is Africa to do in the
face of this far-flung conspiracy? There is only one answer - we must
intensify our struggle. And in order to achieve our objectives, it is
incumbent upon us all to wage a united struggle by all means available
to us and, today more than ever before, the necessity of a co-ordinated
and simultaneous assault by the liberation movement against their common
enemies has become increasingly imperative. At this junction We should
like to reiterate the paramount importance of increasing our assistance to
freedom fighters in their struggle to regain their inalienable rights.
To meet these challenges, We are convinced, no independent African
country will take lightly its responsibility. In this regard, since we
are not novices in the struggle for freedom, our continued endeavour
will no doubt be crowned with success.
Distinguished Heads of State and
Government,
It is a source of encouragement that
the nations of the world are endeavouring to settle their differences by
peaceful means. To this end We wholeheartedly welcome the acceptance of
the Rogers Peace Plan by the parties concerned in the Middle East, the
signing of the non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union
and the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (S.A.L.T.) between the United
States and the Soviet Union.
Middle East
The drawing up of a long-awaited
peace plan in the beleaguered area of the Middle East should have the
support and encouragement of all peace-loving peoples of the world. It
is in this spirit that Ethiopia has welcomed the peace plan initiated by
the United States of America to settle the Middle East Crisis within the
framework of the United Nations Security Council resolution of November
1967. we should like to take this opportunity to congratulate the
parties concerned, especially President Nasser, for consenting to
resolve the crisis through peaceful means. We pray that this initial
move will augur a permanent and enduring peace.
The Bonn-Moscow accord which begins
to settle some of the problems of World War II is of special
significance not only to Europe but to the world as well. This accord
will no doubt create a conducive atmosphere for the two nations to
settle their differences by peaceful means, thus providing their
talented and industrious peoples the opportunity of greater heights of
achievement and excellence by co-operation in many fields of human
endeavour. We trust that this accord, which has brought closer two
adversaries, would serve as a reminder to those who doubt the possibility
of peaceful solutions to seemingly insurmountable difficulties.
At no period in history has there
been a century like this one when man has lived under the heavy shadow
of complete annihilation. It is, therefore, with great hope that we have
welcomed the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (S.A.L.T.) by the two Great
Powers and we trust that these talks will be crowned with success.
These new and courageous steps, being
taken in various parts of the world by thoughtful leaders, will,
hopefully create conditions that will enhance this new era of understanding
among the nations and peoples of the world. In order to strengthen this
new epoch of understanding, it is imperative for statesmen the world
over to utilize these opportune moments that have for so long eluded
them. It is with this in mind that We hope a solution will soon be found
to the Vietnam war which has caused untold suffering to the Vietnamese
people.
Distinguished Heads of State and
Government,
One of the paramount questions of our
continent is the need for economic development. Our struggle in this
sphere is no less demanding since the well-being of our people
ultimately depends on it. The very freedom of Africa for which we have
sacrificed so much will be at stake is we fail to make our continent
economically viable. It is encouraging that in order to bring about this
economic independence the ground work has been laid by the establishment
of regional institutions and various technical bodies. We should like to
stress, in this context, the vital roles the Economic Commission for
Africa and the Organization of African Unity are playing for the realization
of these goals.
Stockpiling Armaments
We cannot pass without stressing the
fact that the vast majority of the nations of today still remain
economically under-developed. In the light of this, it is unfortunate
that so much is spent on stockpiling armaments, the utility of which is
limited to their capacity for destruction. As we have said on many occasions,
the diversion of these resources to economic development is not only
morally right but it is also politically and socially urgent, since the
maintenance of international peace and security depends on closing the
gap between the poor and rich nations of the world. It is our hope that the
recent steps taken in various parts of the world to lesson tensions will
contribute to the curtailment of stockpiling armaments, thus making
available the sorely needed resources for the world's economic
development.
Distinguished Heads of State and
Government,
It is fortunate that this Assembly
precedes the forthcoming conference of the non-aligned nations in Lusaka
and the twenty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations in New York. As
you all know this session of the United Nations also marks the Tenth
anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to
Colonial Countries and Peoples. We should, therefore seize this
opportunity and prepare ourselves for the task that lies ahead. It is obvious
that during our deliberation this week we will be concerned with many
problems and we will inevitably have various views on them. It is
natural for forty-one nations to have differing opinions and different
problems. It is our duty, however, to thrash out our differences and to
reach a solution that will command our united stand. Because of our
common problems, be they in the field of economic development of in our
struggle against racism and colonialism, it would not be difficult to
have a common front. It is this common front we must take to Lusaka to
convince the other non-aligned nations of the justice of our cause, and
thereby solicit their continued support and encouragement in our
struggle to free Africa of all vestiges of racism and colonialism.
At the United Nations, our struggle
this year will have to be more intense and persistent than ever before.
The time is due for all small nations to take a concerted stand in defense
of the principles of the charter, for we cannot afford to have that body
made a mockery of by its less enlightened members who are intent on
making it ineffective. In order to strengthen it and to make it
effective we will have to use the weapons at our disposal, namely, our
united stand and collective conscience.
UN Action Needed
We must therefore be prepared to make
all issues affecting our continent figure prominently and persevere in
our efforts to have the United Nations reassert its historic obligation
to liberate territories still under foreign domination. In this context,
the United Nations must strive to have all its adopted resolutions
implemented, so that the decisions of the majority would prevail and the
minority of its members would not be able to flout them. The most recent
example of this is the declaration of intention by the new British
Government to sell arms to South Africa in utter disregard of
Security Council resolutions. This intention by the British
Government to resume to sale of arms to South Africa should not only be
deplored but any attempt to enforce it should be vigorously resisted.
In conclusion, We should like to
remind this august Assembly of the importance of its task and the
responsibilities entrusted to it by the African People. It is Our hope
that this conference will achieve results from which Africa will
benefit. we will not close Our statement without expressing Our
appreciation to H.E. El Hadji Ahmadou Ahidjo, Chairman of the Sixth
Session for his dedicated and fruitful work.
LONG LIVE AFRICAN
UNITY
September 2, 1970
