Address by the OAU Secretary-General, H.E. Mr Salim Ahmed Salim, at the 18th Meeting of the ECA Conference of Ministers in Addis Ababa.
"Certain terminologies and expressions are gradually gaining acceptance but without a serious challenge as to their exact meaning; terms as "marginalization", "Africa is being forgotten" or "Africa is not or no longer a priority"! We have to recognise that only Africa can marginalize itself and that Africa has never really been a priority for anyone. It would be self-deluding on our part to think that our interests tally with those of the countries we look up to, for assistance and support. Our countries have to recognize and understand the changes that have taken place in global geopolitics, the change of alliances and shifts of emphasis in order, for us, to draw up a new strategy for our continent's survival. This is why I would want to insist that, in spite of the problems facing Africa, we must forge ahead with the economic development of our countries as a matter of extreme priority, recognizing that our fate lies entirely in our own hands."
