Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. 
			MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	SRI PERDANA, KUALA LUMPUR 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	22/10/98 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE OFFICIAL DINNER IN HONOUR OF 
			H.E. MR MELES ZENAWI PRIME
			MINISTER OF THE FEDERAL 
			DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA 



        It  gives  me  great pleasure to once again  bid  Your
  Excellency  a  very  warm  welcome  to  Malaysia.   We  are
  delighted that you are able to accept our invitation.   The
  visit  gives  us  an opportunity to express the  friendship
  that  Malaysia  has  always  had  for  Ethiopia.   It  also
  demonstrates  the  value  of  consultation  in  pursuit  of
  mutually beneficial co-operation.
  
  2.    Your  official visit today is of special significance
  to  all Malaysians.  It is almost three decades to the day,
  as  it  were, that His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie  was
  the  first Head of State of Africa to visit our country  in
  May  1968.   We  still cherish the memory of that  landmark
  visit.   His  Majesty the Emperor's visit was a significant
  forerunner  to  closer ties not only between  Malaysia  and
  Ethiopia,  but  also  between Malaysia  and  other  African
  countries.
  
  3.    Indeed,  Ethiopia was among the first countries  with
  which  Malaysia established diplomatic relations  following
  our  independence.   Malaysia established  our  Embassy  in
  Addis  Ababa  in April 1965.  While Malaysia was  compelled
  to  close our Embassy there in 1983 as we, for some unknown
  reasons,  were no longer welcomed by the regime of Mengistu
  Mariam,  fortunately, this has not in  any  way  diminished
  our sentiments towards, and solidarity with, the people  of
  Ethiopia.
  
  4.    Malaysia understands and sympathises with  the  pains
  and  deprivation that Ethiopia has suffered because of  the
  prolonged civil war which was aided and abetted by  foreign
  interests.   From  being one of the world's  most  renowned
  civilisations, it is sad and regrettable that Ethiopia  was
  a victim of such a tragedy.
  
  5.    We,  in  Malaysia,  have watched  with  interest  and
  admiration  the  efforts of Your Excellency to  consolidate
  the peace acquired through much hardship and sacrifice.  We
  also  know  that  it is due to your untiring  determination
  that  Ethiopia  has progressed after two decades  of  civil
  strife  to become a united and forward-looking nation  that
  it is today.
  
  6.    Although our countries have had very little  contact,
  particularly  during the past three decades, we  have  many
  things  in  common.   We are both multi-cultural  countries
  and  we  believe  in  power sharing  as  reflected  in  the
  consensus-seeking  spirit underlying  the  concept  of  our
  governments.   The success of both our peoples  depends  on
  our  ability  to  promote  positive  co-operation  and  co-
  existence  between all our peoples.  Ethiopia and  Malaysia
  must  contend  with  the  challenge  of  bridging  the  gap
  between the different segments of our societies.
  
  7.    This  means that both countries attach high  priority
  to  promoting  rapid and sustained economic  growth  for  a
  better  life  for all our peoples.  The key to fair  income
  distribution  is to ensure that everyone gets an  equitable
  share  of  an  enlarged  cake  -  rather  than  trying   to
  redistribute  the crumbs of a shrinking cake  more  evenly.
  In  other  words, we do not deprive one segment of  society
  in  order to help another.  The redistribution is from  the
  new growth part.
  
  8.    Malaysia's relations with Africa go a long  way.   It
  began  as early as 1961.  Four years into our Independence,
  Malaysian  soldiers  participated in  the  UN  peacekeeping
  operation  in  the very heart of Africa, the Congo.   Since
  then,  Malaysia has contributed to eight UN  operations  in
  Africa  alone.  Even today, our soldiers and police are  in
  Africa under the Blue Beret.
  
  9.    Malaysia  has also established fruitful and  mutually
  beneficial  relations with many African countries.   Today,
  trade,  investment,  and development cooperation  links  as
  much  as  ties  between  and among  cultural  and  sporting
  groups  have  increased.  Malaysia's relations with  fellow
  members  of  the developing world is, therefore,  based  on
  the   sharing   of    our  experience   and   exchange   of
  information.  We have much to gain by cooperating with  one
  another, and in doing so, prospering together.
  
  10.   We  are impressed that Ethiopia has begun in  earnest
  to  rebuild  itself and is determined to lay the foundation
  for  durable peace, both at home and in the Horn of Africa.
  We  commend Your Excellency's role in seeking resolution to
  the problems in southern Sudan and in Somalia.
  
  11.   In  the spirit of South-South Co-operation,  Malaysia
  will  do  its  utmost to co-operate with  Ethiopia  in  its
  efforts  at  national  reconciliation.   Malaysia  is  also
  ready  to  share  its  experience in  the  development  and
  management    of   Ethiopia's   agricultural,   agro-based,
  telecommunication  and  hydro-carbon  sectors.    In   this
  connection,  we   welcome  Ethiopian  officials  to   visit
  Malaysia to exchange views and experiences.
  
  12.   Your  visit has certainly laid the basis for mutually
  beneficial  relationship,  not only  between  Ethiopia  and
  Malaysia, but also between Africa, ASEAN and East Asia.
  
  13.   I would like, once again, to express our pleasure  in
  welcoming  Your  Excellency and members of your  delegation
  to  Malaysia,  and hope your stay in our  country  will  be
  both enjoyable and memorable.