Interview by Yugoslav Press ,September 9, 1959
``During our recent visit, with President Nasser of the United Arab Republic We
exchanged views on the utilization of the Nile Waters. It was clearly understood
by all that the resources of the Nile are adequate for the needs of all the
riparian states, provided of course that there is consultation and agreement
between them. We were able to inform President Nasser that We have Our own plans
for the utilization of the Blue Nile River. It is Our impression that President
Nasser fully understands Our position on this question.
On our part a study is under way for the development of the Nile basin, and it
is expected that construction will start in the vicinity of Lake Tana in the
very near future. The study is being conducted by a team of experts from various
countries. The extent of the benefit to accrue for Ethiopia from the utilization
of the Nile waters can best be judged from the benefits already being drawn from
this river by both Sudan and the United Arab Republic.
Our relations with Yugoslavia in general and in the fields of economic
cooperation and exchange of trade in particular have developed rapidly. To cite
two among the many projects which we have been able to develop with the
assistance provided by the Yugoslav Government by credit and technical
assistance are the port of Assab and a survey of the Water Resources of
Ethiopia. It is Our expectation that these relations and collaboration between
Yugoslavia and Ethiopia will further develop for the mutual benefit of our two
peoples.
During Our recent visit to the USSR, We felt that the people and Government of
that country sincerely desired peace. This impression has been confirmed also by
what the Authorities have declared to Us.
It is our hope that efforts for peace would not confine themselves to verbal
statements, but would work out in the actual relations between the nations of
the world.
We have also been deeply impressed by the vast resources of the country and the
industry and diligence of the people.
As to the question regarding trade and cooperation between Ethiopia and
Communist nations, problems of communication and geographical location can stand
in the way of development. But trade relations have already been commenced with
some of these countries, and a certain amount of development can be anticipated.
Regarding the expansion of Communism in the Middle East, you are in a better
position to assess the situation than We are. We are happy about the resumption
of diplomatic relation between UAR and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, since it
would ease some of the tension that exists in the Middle East, and pave the way
for closer cooperation.
Regarding the recent appointments in the Iraq Government, We would consider this
an internal matter of that Government, and would not like to express any
opinion, since We believe in the principle of non-interference in the internal
affairs of other nations.
Eisenhower-Khrushchev Meeting
The forthcoming meeting between President Eisenhower and Premier Khrushchev may
well thaw the cold war and become a step on the road to peace, for which the
whole world yearns deeply, and therefore it is a very significant event in the
history of our decade. We welcome this meeting. However, it has to be stated
quite categorically that no ultimate solution can be arrived at without all the
nation who are members of the U.N. organization participating in it. The
mistakes of the Congress of Berlin and of Yalta are not to be repeated. The
small nations, having also committed themselves to the principles and Charter of
the United Nations, would expect the big powers to adhere to those principles of
self-determination for small and big nations and to the channels of
negotiations, which have been established in our age after great sacrifices.
The main impression that We have gathered from Our recent visit to many
countries in Africa and Europe, is that all people are primarily desirous of
working in peace to improve their standards of living. Since peace is the basic
requirement for the peoples of the world to cooperate among themselves for the
betterment of their lives, it becomes an imperative duty of the leaders of
nations, as We have often stated, to make striving for peace the primary
objective of their national and international policy. We would like to reaffirm
Our strong conviction that the principles of coexistence enunciated at the
historic conferences of Bandung and Accra should form a major basis in
international relations.
Ethiopian-Yugoslav Relations
We have been pleased by the development of the close friendship and
collaboration between Ethiopia and Yugoslavia, during the past years, which
have, as is known, yielded valuable results to both nations. Since it is Our
fervent desire to see the development and strengthening of this collaboration in
various fields, We shall strive harder towers this objective. The friendship
between Ethiopia and Yugoslavia bears eloquent testimony to the possibility of
nations with different political systems cooperating in facing their common
problems and working together towards world peace.
We remember how, during Our previous visit to Yugoslavia five years ago, the
people of this country gave warm expression to their feelings of friendship
towards Ourselves and Our people. During the present visit also, the heartfelt
welcome extended to Us by the peoples of the Slovenian and Croatian Republics,
has manifested to Us genuinity of their goodwill towers Us and Our people. We
have not only experienced the hospitality of the people, but have also observed
with admiration the priority given to, and the progress achieved in the field of
industrial development. This achievement assures Us that the people of
Yugoslavia, under the able leadership of His Excellency President Tito, would,
in the near future, attain an even greater degree of development and welfare ``