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In January 1976, Siad Barre informed the Soviet government of
[
Somalia
’s] intention to enter into negotiations with the Ethiopian
leadership about the creation of a Federation of Somalia and
Ethiopia
. In this regard the President requested the Soviet side to
join the negotiations as a mediator. Insofar as the goal and character
of a federation, as well as the possible position of
Ethiopia
, were not
clear, it was decided to avoid defining our attitude to this initiative
and mediation on this issue. In November 1976 Siad Barre
expressed the wish that the Soviet side would report to the Ethiopian
leadership about the wish of the SDR to begin a peaceful dialogue
with
Ethiopia
on the disputed issues which they have. This wish
was brought to the attention of the Chairman of the Committee of
the PMAC for political and foreign affairs through the Soviet
Embassy in
Addis Ababa
.
At the end of 1976 the Cubans and South Yemenis came out
with an initiative to provide mediatory services towards a settlement
of Somalia-Ethiopia relations. The Somali government, not
rejecting this proposal, spoke out in favor of the
Soviet Union
as
well participating directly in the mediation. The Ethiopian side,
regarding the mediation initiative favorably, did not express an
analogous wish.
Cuba
and the PDRY through diplomatic channels
are taking certain steps to organize meetings between the leaders of
Somalia
and
Ethiopia
.
The position of the
Soviet Union
on the question of the
Ethiopia-
Somalia
territorial dispute, which many times has been brought to
the attention of the governments of both countries, is that
Ethiopia
and the SDR must take all possible measures to settle their
disagreements by means of negotiations and to find a way to lessen
the tension in Ethiopia-Somalia relations.
The friendly advice of the
USSR
government, aimed at a
settlement of Ethiopia-Somalia relations, has been favorably
accepted by the governments of both countries. In responses to our
appeals both
Ethiopia
and
Somalia
have announced their readiness
to resolve all disputed issues by means of negotiations and not to
allow the unleashing of a new armed conflict.
Third African Department
MFA
USSR
[Source: TsKhSD, f. 5, op. 73, d. 1632, ll. 39-44; translated by
Mark H. Doctoroff; note revisions to this document added in late
May-early June, printed below.]
Memorandum of Conversation between Soviet Ambassador in
Ethiopia
A.P. Ratanov and Cuban Ambassador in
Ethiopia
Jose Peres
Novoa,
10 February 1977
TOP SECRET, Copy No. 2
From the diary of “30” March 1977 RATANOV, A.P.
Issue No. 129
RECORD OF CONVERSATION
With the Ambassador of
Cuba
in
Ethiopia
JOSE PERES NOVOA
10 February 1977
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