Russian
& East German Documents on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, 1977-78
Minutes
of Meeting of CPSU CC Politburo, 14 July 1978 (excerpt)
MEETING
OF THE
CC CPSU POLITBURO
14
July 1978
Chaired
by Com. KIRILENKO, A.P.
Attended
by Coms. Andropov, Iu.V., Kulakov, F.D., Mazurov, K.T., Demichev, P.N., Kuznetsov,
V.V., Ponomarev, B.N.,Solomentsev, M.S., Chernenko, K.Y., Dolgikh, V.I., Zimianin,
M.V., Riabov, Ia.P., Rusakov, K.V
[...]
9. About Measures for the Future Strengthening of Soviet-Ethiopian Relations
KIRILENKO. Coms. Gromyko, Andropov, and Ponomarev
have presented this issue.
MAL'TSEV says that the Ethiopians are behaving
incorrectly in Eritrea. They are campaigning against providing autonomy
to Eritrea. They have begun military actions there. There are
not conducting an entirely correct policy in the Ogaden either. Military
actions are taking place somewhere there against Somalia.
KIRILENKO. Mengistu is still not sufficiently
experienced, but at the same time he is a very sensitive person, therefore
it is just necessary to educate him, to teach him.
ANDROPOV. It is in the same way important
to show Mengistu that we are on his side.
PONOMAREV. Yesterday the Secretary of the
CC of the Communist Party of Cuba, Vivo Valdez visted me. He had been
in Ethiopia. In Cuba he received instructions. He is returning
there. Vivo said that Cuba will not undertake to do anything in Ethiopia
without the preliminary agreement with the Soviet Union.
In relation to the fact that our Ambassador in
Ethiopia Com. Ratanov has taken ill, and has been in Moscow for three months
already, it is apparently necessary to think about sending another comrade
there.
ANDROPOV. Ambassador to Ethiopia Com. Ratanov
has already gotten better, he can go. But overall it evidently makes
sense for the MFA to think about a new ambassador.
KIRILENKO. I think that, you, Com. Mal'tsev,
will take measures now to send there one of the comrades, say, an advisor,
the most experienced, who could help Com. Ratanov.
The draft of the resolution is accepted.
[Source:
APRF, f. 3, op. 120, d. 40, ll. 45, 10-12; translated by Mark Doctoroff.]
