Message of Comrade Mengistu Haile-Mariam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Ethiopia, Chairman of the Provisional Military Administrative Council and Commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Socialist Ethiopia to the 46th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity

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U.Y.P.L. MZV-IW UmKs-.

m e s s a g e

O F

COMRADE MENGISTU HAILE—MARIAN, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE WORKERS' PARTY OF ETHIOPIA. CHAIRMAN OF THE PROVISIONAL MILITARY ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF SOCIALIST ETHIOPIA

T O

THE 46TH ORDINARY SESSION CP THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY

20 JULY 1987 ADDIS ABABA

Mro Chairman,

Honourable Ministers, Representatives of National Liberation Movements, Distinguished Guests, Comrades,

On behalf of the Workers' Party, Government and People of Socialist Ethiopia and that of my own, I would like to express, at the very outset, my heart felt pleasure to welcome all the delegates who have gathered here to attend the 46th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of our Organization.

Distinguished Ministers,

During your current session you are, as in the past, expected to discuss in depth the major political, economic and social problems that continue to beset our continent since the last Summit, and perepare an agenda and concrete proposals for the 23

rd

Assembly

of Heads of State and Government, scheduled to take place within a few days-

I am confident that you will

ably discharge the heavy responsibilities entrusted to you.

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"ith regard to the political developments in our continent, the situation obtaining in Southern Africa is becoming ever more pressing, and a matter of increasing concern-

it is evident that the appalling situation in

the region has further deteriorated since the last Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of our Organization -

The racist regime continues to contemptuously trample under—foot the dignity of the African black majority with the purpose of perpetuating the selfish interests of the few European settlers.

The election conducted

by whites and for whites only, in early May, is but another demonstration of the obduracy of the racist regime.

Moreover, it is to be recalled that, in utter disregard for international public opinion, the pretoria regime, has extended its national emergency laws, declared in June, a year ago, for a further twelve months, with the view to intensifying its ruthless acts of oppression.

Over and above the atrocities it commits at home, the fascist regime has also persisted in its illegal occupation of Namibia and the insatiable plundering of its natural resourced.

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r» arid insult to injury, it persistently continues its despicable policy of destabi1isation and open aggresfior. against the Frontline and other neighbouring states.

The

flagrant aggrestons and the latest explosive attacks carried out in Livingstone (Zambia) and, more recently, in Harare (Zimbabwe), Maputo (Mozambique) and other places are well-known to us all*

Some Western Governments, especially those of the United States and Great Britain, who encourage and conive in these illegal acts, are reported to have indirectly rendered their full support to the farcical whites-oaly elections-

More—over, they have also arrogantly vetoed,

once again, the resolution for the independence of Namibia that was presented by the African and Non-Aligned Groups to the special session of the Security Council last April, requiring comprehensive and mandatory sanctions against the racist regime in Pretoria.

These Governments regrettably

continue to draw parallels totally irrelevant to the issue of the independence mf Namibia.

It is most evident that the eradication of the odious system of Ayarthej• from our continent is the »ne and only

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solution to the problems of Southern Africa.

Hence, it is

imperative that the international community should step up its political, diplomatic, material and other support to the Liberation Movements of South Africa and Namibia, namely the ANC and SWAPO respectively.

Having due regard

to the vital necessity of imposing comprehensive and mandatory sanctions against the racist regime in Pretoria with the view to strengthen the armed struggle, the efforts tc realize this objective should also be relentlessly pursued.

It is equally significant that all possible assistance be extended to the Frontline and other neighbouring states, which, due to their support to the struggle of the people of South Africa and Namibia, have become targets of the racist regime.

Furthermore, it is expected from this conference to once again, launch an appeal to the democratic and peaceloving forces of the world, to increase all-round support for the intensification of the armed struggle.

Likewise,

the political and diplomatic efforts towards the imposition of comprehensive and mandatory sanctions against the racist regime, in accordance with Chapter VII of the UN Charter, must be vigorously pursued.

Distinguished Ministers,

Africa, the home of nearly 10% of the world's population, is kn®wn to be endowed with enormous natural resources which have, for centuries, been brazenly exploited by colonialism and new—colonialism.

Coupled with the recurrent drought and primitive agricu1tural practices, there has been a marked deterioration of the agricultural sector, ultimately resulting in the decline of food production»

We believe that the improved rainfall and weather condition in many parts of cur region and the efforts to inject modern technology into our agricultural practices will, hopefully, assist our efforts towards food selfsufficiency.

The effort exerted to promote trade exchanges among our countries and attain economic independence by accelerating our development, and to eventually, establish the Economic Community of Africa by the year 2#0f, in accordance with the Lagos plan of Action and the Final Act of Lagos has

been a source of encouragement.

We believe that the

Orgnizations already established to promote closer co-operation amongst African nations at subregional level, will serve as a basis for the establishment of our regional economic community, geared towards the achievement of collective self-reliance.

Over and above our efforts for collective selfreliance in consonance with the Lagos Plan of Action, we must also seek co-operation with developing countries in other parts of the world.

In this regard, we must step

up our participation in the Group of 77 and the Non-Aligned Movement.

In the light cf what I have stated, the achievements of theff'rst Extraordinary Conference of Ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement on South-South Co-operation recently held in Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, could be said to have greatly contributed towards the attainment of our stated objectives.

It is also to be recalled that, in c&Q determined effort to surmount the economic and social crisis facing us, we Africans, have adopted Africa's Priority Programme

for Economic Recovery the T I1s*- Q,,mm4e e ^ i. • y at zne