Russian
& East German Documents on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, 1977-78
Soviet
Foreign Ministry, Background Report on Soviet-Ethiopian Relations,
3
April 1978
Secret.
Single copy
orig.
No. 167/3 ag
03.IV.78
SOVIET-ETHIOPIAN
RELATIONS
(Reference)
Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Ethiopia
were established on 21 April 1943.
Soviet-Ethiopian political cooperation before the
Ethiopian revolution in 1974 developed on the basis of the historical ties
between the peoples of the USSR and Ethiopia, both countries' participation
in the struggle against Fascism during World War Two, and also taking into
account the positive position that Ethiopia held in the struggle against colonialism
and racism, in the questions of strengthening global peace and international
security.
Former Emperor Haile Selassie I visited the Soviet
Union in 1959, 1967, 1970, and in 1973.
The Provisional Military Administrative Council
(PMAC) announced its course for a Socialist orientation and its intention
to develop comprehensive cooperation with the USSR after it came to power
on 12 September 1974.
The Ethiopian leadership emphasized the fact that
it saw the Soviet Union as the main source of their support internationally.
The positions of the PMAC on the majority of major international problems
coincide with or are close to those of the USSR.
In January 1975 the PMAC leadership raised in principle
the question of developing Soviet-Ethiopian relations. It was announced by
our side that the Soviet Union regarded sympathetically the measures taken
by the PMAC for building a new society on progressive principles, and that
we shared their opinion about the need to develop comprehensive contacts between
Ethiopia and the Soviet Union.
Political relations. On 6-11 July 1976 an Ethiopian
state delegation led by former Chairman Mogus Wolde Michael of the PMAC Committee
of Ethiopia came to the Soviet Union on an official visit. The Soviet delegation
at the negotiations was led by Comrade A.A. Gromyko. Members of the Ethiopian
delegation were received by Comrade A.N. Kosygin.
On 4-8 May 1977 a state delegation of Ethiopia
led by Chairman Lieutenant-Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam of the PMAC came
to the Soviet Union on an official friendly visit. Mengistu Haile Mariam was
received by Comrade Brezhnev.
Soviet-Ethiopian negotiations in which the sides
considered the status and the prospects for further development of Soviet-Ethiopian
relations, the situation in Africa, and other international problems of mutual
interest were held.
The sides adopted a Declaration of the Basis for
Friendly Relations and Cooperation between the USSR and Ethiopia in the name
of further strengthening of Soviet-Ethiopian relations. A joint Soviet-Ethiopian
communique was published on the results of the visit of the state delegation
of Ethiopia to the USSR. During the visit the sides signed an Agreement on
Cultural and Scientific Cooperation, a Consular Convention, and the Protocol
on Economic and Technological Cooperation of 6 May 1977.
On 30-31 October 1977 Chairman Mengistu Haile Mariam
of the PMAC of Ethiopia came to the USSR on a closed visit. During the conversation
that Comrades L.I. Brezhnev, A.N. Kosygin, and A.A. Gromyko had with him,
it was emphasized that the USSR was going to continue to provide comprehensive
assistance and support for the Ethiopian revolution in the future.
Comrades L.I. Brezhnev and Mengistu Haile Mariam
repeatedly exchanged personal letters, which also contributed to a strengthening
of bilateral relations.
An Ethiopian delegation led by member of the Permanent
Committee of the PMAC Berhanu Bayeh attended the celebration of the 60th anniversary
of the Great October Socialist Revolution [in November 1977].
In the difficult situation which emerged around
revolutionary Ethiopia and in the country itself the Soviet Union has provided
Ethiopia with constant political and diplomatic support, for which the leadership
of Ethiopia has repeatedly expressed its deep gratitude.
Responding to the PMAC request to provide support
for the peaceful settlement of the Eritrean problem the Soviet Union addressed
several leaders of Arab countries and of Somalia on that issue. The Soviet
Union has also made a presentation to the Iraqi government concerning the
small transfers of Soviet-made weapons to the Eritrean separatists from Iraq
through Sudan.
In the situation of the war unleashed by Somalia
against Ethiopia and the occupation of a significant portion of its territory
the Soviet Union took the position of decisive support of Ethiopia, and provided
it with all kinds of assistance, including the assistance in strengthening
its capability to defend itself. In our official statements and addresses
to a number of African and Arab countries, and also in our contacts with the
Western countries, we consistently advocated the necessity of an immediate
cessation of the conflict by, first and foremost, an unconditional withdrawal
of the Somali troops from the territory of Ethiopia.
In July-August 1977 the Soviet Union provided its
good offices for the settlement of the Somali-Ethiopian conflict. However,
during separate meetings with the representatives of both countries who came
to Moscow it became clear that the two sides held uncompromising mutually
exclusive positions. In those circumstances both delegations left for their
countries, and the mission of good offices was suspended.
Party Contacts. At the request of the PMAC, 120
active members of the PMAC took courses on party building, organization of
labor unions, women's and youth movements, solving nationality and other issues
at the CC CPSU in the Soviet Union. In 1977, 50 people were accepted to those
courses. In March 1978, a group of four Soviet party officials went to Ethiopia
to assist the PMAC in creating a vanguard party of the working class.
Military Cooperation. In December 1976 in Moscow
Ethiopia and the Soviet Union signed an agreement on the transfer of some
defensive weapons and military equipment from the Soviet Union to Ethiopia
in 1977-1980. Upon request from the Ethiopian side part of the weapons was
delivered immediately; and in February 1977 some rifles were supplied for
the Ethiopian people's militia in form of gratuitous assistance. We also gave
our consent to the governments of CzSSR [Czechoslovakia], VNR [Hungary], PNR
[Poland], and Cuba to supply Ethiopia with rifles produced under Soviet licenses,
and to the government of the PDRY [People's Democratic Republic of Yemen]
to transfer Soviet-made tanks and armored personnel vehicles to Ethiopia.
Later, after a new request from Ethiopia, the Soviet
side made a decision additionally to supply Ethiopia with weapons and military
equipment, and also with rifles for the People's militia in 1977-1980. In
addition, we supply Ethiopia with technology for general civilian use, and
Ethiopian servicemen have been accepted for study in the Soviet Union.
During the closed visit of Mengistu Haile Mariam
to Moscow in October 1977, the Soviet side agreed to provide urgently additional
supplies of weapons and military equipment to strengthen the capability of
Ethiopia to defend itself in the situation of the Somali aggression.
A group of Soviet military advisers and specialists
currently works in Ethiopia.
A state delegation led by Army General V.I. Petrov
has been staying in Ethiopia since November 1977 on a closed visit. The tasks
of the delegation include devising measures jointly with the Ethiopian side
to assist the PMAC in building the Ethiopian armed forces, for faster mastering
of the Soviet military equipment by the Ethiopian army, and in the planning
of military operations in the Ogaden and Eritrea.
[Source:
TsKhSD, f. 5, op. 75, d. 1175, ll. 24-32; translation by Svetlana Savran-skaya.]
