Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
88MOGADISHU11685
1988-10-03 13:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Mogadishu
Cable title:
SOVIET FLIRTATION WITH SOMALIA
how-toP 031304Z OCT 88 FM AMEMBASSY MOGADISHU TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7454 INFO AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI AMEMBASSY MOSCOW AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY ROME
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOGADISHU 11685
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL US UR SO
SUBJECT: SOVIET FLIRTATION WITH SOMALIA
REF: FBIS LONDON UK 281549Z SEP 88
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOGADISHU 11685
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL US UR SO
SUBJECT: SOVIET FLIRTATION WITH SOMALIA
REF: FBIS LONDON UK 281549Z SEP 88
1. (LOU) WISH TO DRAW DEPARTMENT'S ATTENTION TO
REF FBIS REPORT OF AN IZVESTIYA DISPATCH DATELINED
MOGADISHU "WARM WIND IN THE HORN OF AFRICA". PIECE
IS CLEARLY A SCENE-SETTER FOR CURRENT (AND LONG-
POSTPONED) VISIT OF SOVIET ECONOMIC DELEGATION
THAT ARRIVED HERE WITH MUCH HOOPLA LAST WEEKEND.
IZVESTIYA CLAIMS THAT THERE IS WIDESPREAD
ENTHUSIASM IN SOMALIA FOR A REVIVAL OF CLOSE
SOMALIA-SOVIET RELATIONS AND NOSTALGIA FOR THE
'70S WHEN THESE TIES WERE VERY CLOSE. ESPECIALLY
NOTEWORTHY IS THE CORRESPONDENT'S INTERVIEW WITH
PRIME MINISTER SAMANTAR, CONDUCTED IN RUSSIAN,
IN WHICH SAMANTAR FONDLY RECALLS THOSE GOOD OLD
DAYS.
2. (LOU) WE HAVE VERY LITTLE INFORMATION SO FAR
ON HOW TALKS ARE GOING BETWEEN SOVIET DELEGATION
AND SOMALIS. WE KNOW, HOWEVER, THAT IN ADDITION
TO PREDICTABLE CALLS ON AGRICULTURE AND PLANNING
MINISTERS, DELEGATION PAID A SPECIAL VISIT TO
SOMALI DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTIONARY PARTY HEADQUARTERS
FOR TALKS WITH DE FACTO PARTY BOSS ABDULKADIR
HAJI MOHAMED.
-
3. (C) COMMENT: AS WE MIGHT HAVE PREDICTED,
SOVIETS SUCCEEDED IN TIMING THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR
DELEGATION TO COINCIDE WITH PERIOD OF SEVEREST
STRAIN BETWEEN PRESIDENT SIAD AND HIS WESTERN
FRIENDS, MOST NOTABLY OURSELVES. IT WILL BE
RECALLED THAT THIS VISIT HAS BEEN "IMMINENT" FOR
NEARLY NINE MONTHS. WHILE SOVIET EMBASSY DOWNPLAYS
ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO US, AT LEAST SOME SOMALIS ARE
POINTING TO IT AS AN INDICATION OF CRISIS IN
U.S.-SOMALI RELATIONS. END COMMENT.
4. (C) DELEGATION'S CALL AT PARTY HEADQUARTERS
SEEMS AN UNUSUAL MOVE TO US FOR A MISSION WHOSE
OSTENSIBLE PURPOSE IS STRICTLY ECONOMIC. WOULD
APPRECIATE COMMENT.
CRIGLER
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL US UR SO
SUBJECT: SOVIET FLIRTATION WITH SOMALIA
REF: FBIS LONDON UK 281549Z SEP 88
1. (LOU) WISH TO DRAW DEPARTMENT'S ATTENTION TO
REF FBIS REPORT OF AN IZVESTIYA DISPATCH DATELINED
MOGADISHU "WARM WIND IN THE HORN OF AFRICA". PIECE
IS CLEARLY A SCENE-SETTER FOR CURRENT (AND LONG-
POSTPONED) VISIT OF SOVIET ECONOMIC DELEGATION
THAT ARRIVED HERE WITH MUCH HOOPLA LAST WEEKEND.
IZVESTIYA CLAIMS THAT THERE IS WIDESPREAD
ENTHUSIASM IN SOMALIA FOR A REVIVAL OF CLOSE
SOMALIA-SOVIET RELATIONS AND NOSTALGIA FOR THE
'70S WHEN THESE TIES WERE VERY CLOSE. ESPECIALLY
NOTEWORTHY IS THE CORRESPONDENT'S INTERVIEW WITH
PRIME MINISTER SAMANTAR, CONDUCTED IN RUSSIAN,
IN WHICH SAMANTAR FONDLY RECALLS THOSE GOOD OLD
DAYS.
2. (LOU) WE HAVE VERY LITTLE INFORMATION SO FAR
ON HOW TALKS ARE GOING BETWEEN SOVIET DELEGATION
AND SOMALIS. WE KNOW, HOWEVER, THAT IN ADDITION
TO PREDICTABLE CALLS ON AGRICULTURE AND PLANNING
MINISTERS, DELEGATION PAID A SPECIAL VISIT TO
SOMALI DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTIONARY PARTY HEADQUARTERS
FOR TALKS WITH DE FACTO PARTY BOSS ABDULKADIR
HAJI MOHAMED.
-
3. (C) COMMENT: AS WE MIGHT HAVE PREDICTED,
SOVIETS SUCCEEDED IN TIMING THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR
DELEGATION TO COINCIDE WITH PERIOD OF SEVEREST
STRAIN BETWEEN PRESIDENT SIAD AND HIS WESTERN
FRIENDS, MOST NOTABLY OURSELVES. IT WILL BE
RECALLED THAT THIS VISIT HAS BEEN "IMMINENT" FOR
NEARLY NINE MONTHS. WHILE SOVIET EMBASSY DOWNPLAYS
ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO US, AT LEAST SOME SOMALIS ARE
POINTING TO IT AS AN INDICATION OF CRISIS IN
U.S.-SOMALI RELATIONS. END COMMENT.
4. (C) DELEGATION'S CALL AT PARTY HEADQUARTERS
SEEMS AN UNUSUAL MOVE TO US FOR A MISSION WHOSE
OSTENSIBLE PURPOSE IS STRICTLY ECONOMIC. WOULD
APPRECIATE COMMENT.
CRIGLER