1.
SV & CU Ethiopian Ambassador speaking in English (2 shots)
1.59

2.
CU Visnews reporter asking question
2.03

3.
SV Ambassador replying
2.17


AMBASSADOR: "I walked out during Dr. Owen's speech yesterday at the Lord Mayor's banquet at Mansion House because my understanding Britain's position from talks I had with him two days earlier, at my own request on Tuesday, for clarification on this and other matters of bilateral relations was - non - interference in the internal affairs of Ethiopia; respect for Ethiopia's unity and territorial integrity as well as condemnation of the Somali invasion. At yesterday's banquet, why, in the first place, Dr. Owen referred to the Eritrean question as if it were a question of liberation movement, like rhodesia, and then went further to question the sovereign right of Ethiopia to seek and obtain any assistance in any form from any of our friendly countries, in this particular case Cuba, and the..... Soviet Union, have indeed been two strange and uncalled for. I could not see it but as an effrontery to the honour and integrity of Ethiopia and its revolution. There war no way for me therefore other than to express my strong resentment to his remarks in the manner I did. The question of Eritrea is an internal mater. We have the full rights, an inalienable sovereign right to ask and obtain assistance to repel the aggression and dispel machinations of the imperialist and reactionary Arab countries. The peace and security of the Horn of Africa, as well as that of Rhodesia and South Africa, is threatened not because of Ethiopia's just steps to defend its unity and the revolution, nor the battle of progressive forces and liberation forces of the patriotic forces in Zimbabwe, but because of the ploys of the reactionary forces."



REPORTER: "Will your Government follow up your walkout with any further protest?"



AMBASSADOR: "I don't think there will be any other trouble (indistinct). I think my stand has been very clear and I hope it will be taken as such."




Initials BB/2200


WE DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO OUR PRODUCTION NUMBER 3333/78 "U.K.: FOREIGN SECRETARY DENOUNCES SOVIET AND CUBAN ROLES IN AFRICA" SERVICED 6/7 APRIL, 1978.
REPORTER: BRENDAN FARROW

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Ethiopia's Ambassador to London has described a speech by British Foreign Secretary Dr. David Owen, in which he attacked Soviet and Cuban intervention in the Horn of Africa as "an affront to the honour and dignity of the Ethiopian people".

Ambassador Ato Ayalew Wolde-Giorgis told Visnews reporter Brendan Farrow why he walked out of a banquet on Wednesday evening during Dr. Owen's speech.