UN General Assembly
1968

“...the widening gap” — [between industrialized countries and those that are not yet industrialized] — “must become a source of bitterness and rebellion. The solidarity which should be a bond of union between developed and developing peoples is not solely a humanitarian policy; it is also a rational policy. However, the action that is being taken, along lines that have been described in so many speeches, is still inadequate.” [1683rd meeting, para. 99.] 173. ti recent years, Madagascar has not neglected any form of co-operation. At the bilateral level, after normalizing and strengthening its relations with the former metropolitan country, it has negotiated and signed a whole series of agreements, quite a long list of them — with other countries. At the African level, the closest collaboration has been maintained with the French-speaking countries, first in the Afro-Malagasy Organization for Economic Co-operation, then later in the joint Afro-Malagasy Organization. A de facto free trade area has been set up and the African and Malagasy coffee and sugar organizations have now gained international recognition.