Gadhafi
says African unity stronger than nuclear bombs
|
 SIRTE
(FinalCall.com)�"The
march of Black people has already begun as of this day with the
establishment of the greatest union in the world," Col. Muammar
Gadhafi declared March 2, during the closing session of the Sirte II
Summit, where the formation of an African Union officially was declared.
Host of the Summit and the main proponent behind the
idea of a United States of Africa, the Libyan leader said that in
declaring an African Union, Africans had redrawn the map of world
influence and domination.
"The balance was upset by the injustice against
Black people, now the Africans will adjust the balance, not by weapons
of mass destruction, colonialism or tyranny, but by the will of the
people to shape their lives and redraw the map," he said.
"Africa has no intercontinental ballistic
missiles or nuclear weapons, but Africa today is stronger than those who
possess cruise missiles. It has the will that is far stronger than
ballistic missiles that are made of metal and, therefore, susceptible to
rust. The will of the people, however, can never be susceptible to
rust," he said.
The Consultative Act of the African Union, signed on
here by all 53 member states of the OAU, ultimately will establish a
Pan-African Parliament, a Court of Justice, a common currency and
central bank and create a common military for the continent, among other
things. Thirty-one states have ratified the Act, but 36 notices of
ratification are needed to enact its provisions.
Final ratification is expected to occur in Lusaka,
Zambia in July during the OAU�s annual meeting.
In a message during the March 1 opening session, Col.
Gadhafi noted that the leaders were standing at a point in history as a
result of "lakes of blood, sweat and tears" paid by those who
preceded them.
Unity could not be established while the continent
was under the yoke of colonialism, so Africa had to fight white
colonialism, he said. The liberation of the whole of southern Africa has
upgraded the status of the continent, he said.
"It is high time for the realization of African
unity because we sacrificed everything for our liberation. Our
sacrifices include the early forefathers such as Omar Al-Mukhtar [Libya�s
hero against colonialism] and the Soweto youth [South Africa]," he
said.
Col. Gadhafi warned that imperialism has replaced
colonialism, and that there is an imperialist mentality that desires to
enslave Africa again. He also called on France and Britain to apologize
for their involvement in the slave trade and to pay Blacks reparations.
He reminded the leaders that Africa had always been a
borderless continent without any inter-state customs, and colonialists
created such barriers to keep Africans divided. He also saluted
contemporary leaders of African liberation who were seated in chairs of
honor during the summit�former Botswana President Masire, former
Tanzania President Kenneth Kaunda, former Algerian President Ahmed Ben
Bella and former South African President Nelson Mandela. Palestinian
leader Yassar Arafat also was a special guest at the Summit.
"Our historic, heroic and bitter struggle is
today crowned by the United States of Africa. This was not achieved by
Muammar al-Gadhafi or Libya, but by the African will," Col. Gadhafi
said.
"Glory be to Africa and eternal life for the
martyrs of Africa," he said. |
