Selected Speeches Of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I

GERMAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OPENED

History adequately supports the fact of the traditional bonds of friendship that so happily subsist between the peoples of Germany and Ethiopia. This Cultural institute, a timely gesture from the Federal Republic, further reinforces these traditional links and opens the way for a better understanding of the cultures of the two peoples.

It has been generally attested that there is no more enduring meeting ground between nations and peoples than on the cultural and economic field. Proud of her cultural heritage, Ethiopia has made it her policy to distil from other cultures that which is beneficial, and to blend it with her own so as to develop a way of life suited to the times yet anchored to the renown[ed] history of the nation.

On this occasion, We would like to mention the many German scholars of high learning and, in particular, Professor Littman, who, besides collecting Ethiopian books both in Ge'ez and Amharic, have worked hard in making known to the world the culture of Ethiopia.

This German Cultural Institute, designed as it is to provide ways and means of information and study of the vast areas of human aspirations, will aid our two peoples and those interested in comparative culture. It is, therefore, with pleasure that We declare open this German Cultural Institute in Addis Ababa.

June 11, 1962.

Electronic edition created and published online by members of the
Emperor Haile Sellassie First Theocracy Reign
Order of the Nyahbinghi

August 30, 2017