UN General Assembly
1963

168. Another requirement stemming from the Addis Ababa Conference is that our Organization should reappraise, with a view to their adaptation to the new situation of Africa, the structures, functioning and practical methods of international co-operation in the economic, social and cultural fields. The programmes planned and organized for the benefit of individual African States should be increasingly replaced by regional programmes covering several States that have the same geographic characteristics and similar, or complementary economic resources to develop. 169. The arbitrary, fanciful and sometimes microscopic nature of the random subdivision of territories effected through the conquests of the European Powers, which we have been led to regard as peace-time boundaries serving as a basis for our task of reconstructing our continent on reasonable and viable principles, in fact prevents any real economic development. Only within the framework of broader units can international co-operation for the benefit of Africa yield all the fruits that we have a right to expect from this vital aspect of our Organization's activities.