At the end of the congress, the President pledged the Party's readiness to assume its responsibilities by giving its support to government action to *guarantee permanently the security of the state, national unity and peace for the citizens.
He commended the activists who condemned all those who, from far and near attempted to disturb the security of the republic and fully supported the measures he took to bring the situation under control.
President Biya further warned all those who wanted to jeopardise the security of the Republic that they will be judged and punished in accordance with the laws.
He however, pointed out that the life of the country was never disturbed at any time. Cameroon, in spite of a few surface disturbances characteristic of the political life of all democratic nations, is a serious and stable country, a country pursuing its development in an atmosphere of unity and peace, "I will say openly that Cameroon is in good health".
National unity, on the one hand, is being consolidated daily. This unity, which is diverse, complementary, solidary and has faith in a common destiny, transcends all kinds of differences such as geographical, historical, linguistic, tribal and religious differences and has made Cameroon a modern and strong state in which there is justice and equality for all with regard to duties and advantages in the civil service.
This implies that Cameroonians are first and foremost Cameroonians, before being Bamilekes, Ewondos, Fulbes, Bassars, Bulus, Dualas, Bakwelis, Bayers, Mashas, and Ubakas. It implies that Cameroonians are first and foremost Cameroonians before being English- speaking or French-speaking, Christians, Muslims, or animists.
It also implies that the President of the Republic, head of the secular state, is and remains, independent of his origin or religion, President of all Cameroonians. Finally, it implies that the Cameroonians, in respect of the rights of others and the laws and rules of the Republic, are at home all over Cameroon and that in particular, civil servants must be able to serve the nation wherever the state assigns them.
In other words, national unity condemns tribalism, favouritism, and all kinds of discrimination. It fights against clannish attitudes and other privileges and forms a deeply Cameroonian identity. It calls for true national in- tegration that is trustworthy, conscious, and progressive.
The economic situation is also satis- factory. National economic activity has maintained and in some cases increased its pace and has even improved its results in the past 10 months......
Finally, at the international level, Cameroon is a country which believes in peace and is opening its doors, and which continues to practise a systematic policy of friendship, indiscriminatory co-operation, and non-alignment based on respect for its independence, its sovereignty, and its fundamental policies........
Some say that the age of chivalry is past, that the spirit of romance is dead. The age of chivalry is never past, so long as there is a wrong left unredressed on earth.
(Attributed to John Keats)
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