Statement of His Excellency, Mr Salim Ahmed Salim, Secretary General of the OAU, to the Opening Session of the International Conference on Assistance to African Children in Dakar.
"Yet, despite this unfortunate picture and perhaps because of it, it is encouraging to note that things are changing in our continent and the changes are positive and in some cases nothing short of revolutionary. Notwithstanding shortcomings here and there the process of democratisation is on course end irresistible. There is now an increasingly enabling environment for the promotion of popular participation in the development process, respect for human rights and observance of the rule of law. Our people want nothing less than the maintenance of high standards of probily and accountability of those in public office. All these augur well in terms of creating democratic institutions in response to the yearnings of our populations and this will impact positively in the socio-economic development of our countries."
