Speech delivered by H.E. Leopold Sedar Senghor, president of the republic of Sengal: conference of the heads of states and governments

Abstract

Speech delivered by Leopold Sedar SENGHOR, President of the Republic of SENEGAL. Mr. Sedar, on his remarks highlighted that, the consciousness of our community of culture, our African-ness, is a necessary preliminary to any progress along the road to unity. Without it, there can be no will, let alone an effective effort to reach unity. The aim we must assign, which we do assign, to our action can, obviously, only be the very aim, which other nations and continents have set themselves: development through economic growth. The African Economic Community is not planned for tomorrow. However, we must give it thought already today: and better still, direct our steps and stages in that direction. We shall do so by accepting, each one of us, some sacrifices. By accepting and applying in practice the general principles, which are the strength of all international institutions: the quality of member states, non-interference in the internal affairs of others.