Russian
& East German Documents on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, 1977-78
Record
of Negotiations between Somali and Soviet Officials in Moscow,
15-19
August 1977 (excerpts)
From
the journal of Secret. Copy No. 8
L.F.
Ilichev
31 August 1977
No.
2325/GS
Record
of Conversation
with
the Minister of Mineral and Water Resources of Somalia,
Head of Delegation of Experts
Hussein Abdulkadir Kasim
(third
level)
The head of the Somali delegation of experts returned
to Moscow on 14 August 1977. Meetings took place at the residence of
the Somali Delegation from 15-19 August 1977. On 20 August the delegation
returned to Mogadishu.
15
August
[...] Moreover, in confidence it had been said
to the head of the Somali delegation, that the Soviet leaders and L.I. Brezhnev
in person had appealed once again with a message to President Siad, in which
was expressed the point of view of the Soviet side with regard to the events,
which were taking place in the region of the Horn of Africa. This had
been done before the publication of the TASS statement.
[...]
17
August
[...]
[I] underscored that the Soviet good services mission, as follows from the
exchange of messages between L.I. Brezhnev and Siad Barre, is not charged
with facilitating the discussion of any particular concrete question or questions
which have arisen in relations between Somalia and Ethiopia, such as, for
example, the territorial question, for the parties which are in conflict are
more familiar with the substance of the matter. In the current situation
it is difficult to imagine how it will be possible to resolve any sort of
concrete question. After all, in order for that to happen it is necessary
to create the appropriate conditions. Therefore the Soviet side sees
its good services mission first and foremost in assisting in the creation
of conditions, under which it would be possible to resolve all questions at
the negotiating table.
18
August
A tete-a-tete conversation took place at the request
of the head of the Somali delegation.
H.A. Kasim reported that:
1. He was charged by the Somali government to inform
the Soviet government that new factors had arisen in the development of the
situation in East Africa, which bear witness to the attempts to expand internationally
and to escalate the conflict and also to the interference of non-African governments
in the conflict. Several days before President Siad in his declaration had
spoken of the interference of a friendly country, part of the socialist community,
whose leaders and policy enjoy great authority in Somalia. According
to information received by Mogadishu, Cuban military officials are involved
in the conflict between the Western Somali Liberation Front and Ethiopia.
As President Siad declared further, Somalia does not intend to remain neutral
in the face of this situation, when citizens of Somali nationality in the
Ogaden are perishing at the hands of non-Africans.
2. He discussed the campaign of insinuations which
was being carried out inthe imperialist press and declared that Somalia will
not become the victim of such a campaign, that, as before, Somalia will adhere
to socialist principles and to the course of strengthening friendly relations
with the Soviet Union, in spite of the ruses of imperialist propaganda.
At the same time he expressed alarm at the "avalanche
of declarations and commentary appearing in the Soviet press," beginning
on 14 August, noting, that such declarations are pouring oil on the fire of
imperialist propaganda at the very moment when the Soviet Union is conducting
a good services mission, whose aim is to assist in finding a solution to the
situation which has been created in East Africa. Such reports hardly further
the fulfillment of the good services mission and they could not have been
printed without the consent of the Soviet government. In his words,
the campaign in the Soviet press does not promote the creation of a situation
which would be favorable to reaching a peaceful resolution of the questions
which have arisen between Somalia and Ethiopia. If this campaign does
not cease, said my interlocutor, the Somali people will begin to ask why statements
in the Soviet press contain accusations addressed at Somalia and why the Somali
government does not react to them.
He assured me further, that Somalia would not be
deceived by any such ruses of imperialist propaganda, but warned that others
might swallow the bait.
[I] asked about the degree of trustworthiness of
the intelligence which served as the basis for the declaration that, "Cuban
military officials were involved in the military conflict." Is it possible
that you are swallowing the bait of imperialist propaganda? Moreover,
would it not be preferable to clarify this sort of question directly with
our Cuban comrades?
H.A. Kasim. We are not speaking idly.
Contacts have already been established with the Cubans as regards this question.
[Source:
TsKhSD, f. 5, op. 73, d. 1620, ll. 60-80; translated by Sally Kux.]
