Russian
& East German Documents on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, 1977-78
Memorandum
of Conversation between Soviet Acting Charge d'affaires in Ethiopia S. Sinitsyn
and Political Counselor of the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia, Herbert Malin, 9
May 1977
From
the journal of Sinitsyn, Ya.S. SECRET, Copy No. 2
26
May 1977
Original
No. 203
RECORD
OF THE CONVERSATION
with
the Political Counselor of the USA
Embassy
in Ethiopia, Herbert Malin
9
May 1977
Today at the reception at the Pakistani Embassy,
Malin (acting Charge d'Affaires in connection with the recall of the latter
to a meeting in Abidjan of USA ambassadors) characterized the state of Ethiopian-American
relations in the following manner:
The decision of the PMAC about the closing in late
April of a number of American organizations in Ethiopia (a group of military
attaches, the strategic radio center in Asmara, a biological laboratory
of the USA Navy, and an information center in Addis Abba), and also the abrogation
beginning on 1 May of this year of the 1953 agreement "On the preservation
of mutual security" (the Embassy received a verbal communication from
the Foreign Ministry of Ethiopia about this) came at an unexpected time for
the USA and raised the question of the formulation of a new USA policy towards
Ethiopia in light of these conditions. This policy, Malin stated, was
not yet formulated. Although the Ethiopian authorities exhibited the
necessary correctness towards personnel assigned by American organizations,
and with the exception of press campaigns, no hostile actions whatsoever against
American citizens were observed here, nonetheless the Embassy of the USA is
aware that the USA would find it difficult to institute stable business-like
relations with the current Ethiopian regime. The closing of the USA
economic assistance mission here [USAID] cannot be excluded. Obviously,
relations in the military sphere will be broken off, although some Ethiopian
military personnel continue to be trained in the USA (pilots, etc.).
Under the present conditions, Washington probably will not hurry to name a
new ambassador to Addis-Ababa.
According to Malin, however, all this does not
mean that the USA intends to "get out of Ethiopia," considering
the significance of this country for the African continent and the strategically
important Red Sea region. The USA, as before, is opposed to splitting
off Eritrea from Ethiopia and in favor of the freedom of navigation in the
Red Sea, and has made the Ethiopian government aware of this repeatedly.
At the same time the USA is concerned about the possibility of the development
of a crisis situation between Ethiopia and neighboring countries and about
the obvious lack of trust by the Ethiopian government in American policy in
this region.
Malin considered the visit [to Moscow] by Mengistu
to be a "Soviet success" and a reflection of the transition by the
current Ethiopian regime to an orientation primarily towards the Soviet Union,
above all in the military sphere and with the specific aim of obtaining modern
weaponry. In his view, however, the Ethiopian-Soviet rapprochement
could complicate relations between the USSR and Somalia and some other Arab
states, and, at the same time, enhance instability in the region.
For my part, I told Malin that our policy towards
Ethiopia is principled, not directed against any third countries, and responds
to the interests of strengthening peace and security in the region.
NOTES: In private conversations with us,
American representatives, relying on "various sources in Washington,"
do not hide the fact that they are irritated by the "Ethiopia's recent
anti-American actions," and this country's lack of trust in the USA.
At the same time, comments by Westerners reveal that in the back of
their minds they are wondering whether the Soviet Union "could assume
the entire burden of assistance to Ethiopia."
It is obvious that, pursuing a policy to the detriment
of the Ethiopian revolution, the USA and other Western countries will still
try to maintain certain spheres of influence in this country. Thus,
during the sessions of the IBRD's [International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development's] "International Development Association" a no-interest
credit of $40 million was extended to Ethiopia for the purpose of road building
and irrigation.
Acting
Charge D'Affairs
of the USSR in Ethiopia
/s/
S. Sinitsyn
[Source:
TsKhSD, f. 5, op. 73, d. 1638, ll. 142-144; translated by Elizabeth Wishnick.]
