Russian
& East German Documents on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, 1977-78
Memorandum
of Conversation between Soviet Ambassador to Ethiopia A.P. Ratanov and Mengistu,
29 June 1977
SECRET,
copy No. 2
From
the journal of Ratanov, A.P.,
18
July 1977, Original No. 255
RECORD
OF THE CONVERSATION with the President of the PMAC, MENGISTU HAILE MARIAM
29
June 1977
Today I visited Mengistu Haile Mariam and, as authorized
by the Center [Moscow], outlined the Soviet position on Ethiopian-Somali relations,
highlighting the threat that military conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia
would pose to the revolutionary achievements in both countries.
Mengistu then thanked the Soviet leadership for
its efforts in pursuit of the normalization of Ethiopia-Somali relations and
stated the following:
The PMAC's position on Ethiopian-Somali relations
remains unchanged - it supported and continues to support the improvement
of relations with Somalia through negotiations and the restoration of cooperation
with this country in the struggle against a common enemy - imperialism. In
light of this, the PMAC assumes that, unlike Sudan, which completely went
over to the side of imperialism, Somalia remains a country which claims to
adhere to scientific socialism and has friendly relations with socialist states,
a situation which would create favorable conditions for the restoration of
friendly relations and cooperation between Somalia and Ethiopia, and also
influences the study of Marxism-Leninism and the establishment of close cooperation
with the Soviet Union and other socialist states.
In response to the appeal from the Soviet government,
the PMAC would like to emphasize once more that Ethiopia does not have any
aggressive intentions with respect to Somalia. The PMAC already informed
the Soviet government that it has accepted the proposal by Siad Barre to organize
a Somali-Ethiopian meeting on an expert level. Clearly, Ethiopia will
not go to this meeting as a supplicant, but as an equal partner.
Ethiopia is prepared to contribute to the efforts
of the Soviet Union to prevent Somalia from shifting to the right, as can
be observed today. As far as Ethiopia is concerned, Somalia is already
engaged in subversive activities against it in the guise of a Front for the
Liberation of Western Somalia, the headquarters of which is located in Mogadishu.
Armed units of this front have taken some villages in eastern Ethiopia.
These units are even armed with Soviet-made anti-aircraft missiles.
Naturally, Ethiopian forces must combat the units of this force.
In conclusion, Mengistu made a request to the Soviet
government to lend its support to efforts to achieve a withdrawal of Somali
forces from Ethiopian territory. Responding to a question from the Soviet
ambassador, Mengistu said that relations between Ethiopia and the Republic
of Djibouti were not bad, but that the leadership of this Republic, fearing
annexation by Ethiopia or Somalia, agreed to a French military presence.
Under these conditions, said Mengistu, if it were possible to restore cooperation
between Ethiopia and Somalia, then these countries could affirm that they
guarantee the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Djibouti,
which would facilitate the withdrawal of French forces from Djibouti and the
development of this state along a progressive path.
AMBASSADOR
OF THE USSR
IN
SOCIALIST ETHIOPIA
/s/
A RATANOV
[Source:
TsKhSD, f. 5, op. 73, d. 1636, ll. 74-75; translated by Elizabeth Wishnick.]
