C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 00872

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL SOVIET UNION PINR SL
SUBJECT: SPYING CHARGES AGAINST USSR

REF: A) FBIS 011418Z FEB 90, B) MONROVIA 1175,
C) FREETOWN 0443, D) STATE 048127


1. REFTELS REFER TO SOVIET DENIALS OF ALLEGED U.S.
CHARGES OF THEIR SPYING ON U.S. INSTALLATIONS FROM
FACILITIES IN SIERRA LEONE. FOLLOWING CONFIRMATION
THAT IN FACT WE NEVER MADE SUCH ALLEGATIONS, DCM
TRIED TO CALL HIS COUNTERPART AT SOVIET EMBASSY.
THE COUNTERPART NEVER RETURNED PHONE CALLS AND WE
DECIDED TO PUT OUR EFFORTS ON HOLD UNTIL AN OPPOR-
TUNITY PRESENTED ITSELF.


2. THAT OPPORTUNITY CAME ON MONDAY 2/27, WHEN DCM
MET NEW SOVIET POLITICAL OFFICER AT INAUGURATION
OF A TRAINING COURSE FOR NEW WEST AFRICAN DIPLOMATS.
DCM TOOK THE OCCASION TO EXPLAIN OUR PUZZLEMENT WITH
THE REPORTS. THE NEXT MORNING DCM RECEIVED A CALL
FROM SOVIET DCM WHO INVITED HIM TO SOVIET EMBASSY.


3. AT 2/28 MEETING WITH SOVIET DCM GENADI RAISKI
AND AMBASSADOR'S SECRETARY/TRANSLATOR KONSTANTINE
ALERSEYEV. DCM AGAIN EXPLAINED OUR PUZZELMENT AND
ASSURED SOVIETS WE HAD SENT NO NOTE OR MESSAGE TO
GOSL COMPLAINING OF SOVIET ACTIVITIES. RAISKI
REPLIED THAT HIS EMBASSY WAS JUST AS PUZZLED BY THE
AFFAIR, INDICATING THEY HAD ALSO HEARD OF THE DENIAL
FROM TASS THROUGH THE FOREIGN MINISTRY IN MOSCOW.
THEY HAD HEARD OF NO REPORTS HERE.

4. RAISKI ASKED IF THE EMBASSY MIGHT NOT KNOW OF
THE ACTIVITIES OF OTHER USG AGENCIES
DCM REPLIED WE HAD CANVASSED A MULTITUDE OF OTHER
AGENCIES AND COULD FIND NO POSSIBLE SOURCE OF THE
ALLEGED ACCUSATION.


5. RAISKI EXPRESSED RELIEF AT OUR INFORMATION AND
INDICATED HIS DESIRE TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP BETTER
RELATIONS BETWEEN OUR TWO EMBASSIES.


6. TURNING TO OTHER MATTERS, RAISKI EXPRESSED HIS
CONCERN OVER THE SERIOUS OF THE SITUATION IN THE
SOVIET UNION AND WONDERED ALOUD IF IT MIGHT HAVE
BEEN BETTER HAD THEY FIRST TRIED TO INTIATE ECONO-
MIC BEFORE POLITICAL REFORM. HE DEFENDED SOVIET
ACTIONS IN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA POINTING OUT THAT
ALL THE GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING TO DO WAS STABILIZE
THE SITUATION AND STOP THE VIOLENCE. HE SAID THE
ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN THE COUNTRY WERE VERY GREAT
AND IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME TO RESOLVE. HE WAS
CLEARLY PESSIMISTIC ON THE SITUATION.


7. TURNING TO THE SIERRA LEONE SCENE, RAISKI EX-
PRESSED PESSISM ON THE SITUATION ASKING THE DCM
HIS VIEWS ON DEVALUATION, THE DEFICIT, AND THE IMF.
INTERESTINGLY RAISKI DID NOT BELIEVE DEVALUATION
WOULD WORK. HE ADVOCATED A FLOATING EXCHANGE
RATE THAT WOULD HELP RECHANNEL EXPORT REVENUES TO
MORE PRODUCTIVE USES AND WOULD ALLOW FOR A MEETING
OF THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR FOREIGN EXCHANGE. THE
DCM'S OBSERVATION THAT HE SOUNDED LIKE A FIRE MAR-
TIAL ECONOMIST BROUGHT AN APPRECIATIVE LAUGH.
-
RAISKI ALSO DISCUSSED SOVIET ATTEMPTS TO NEGOTIATE
A NEW FISHING AGREEMENT WITH THE GOSL. HE WAS NOT
OPTIMISTIC. (SEPTEL)


8. COMMENT: THE ENTIRE SPY CHARGE EPISODE SEEMS
VERY CONFUSED. IT WOULD APPEAR HOWEVER, TO HAVE
ORIGINS OUTSIDE OF SIERRA LEONE. WE HAVE REPORTED
ON RAISKI BEFORE. HE APPEARS GENUINELY INTERESTED
IN BETTER RELATIONS, BUT LIKE MANY OF HIS COLLEGUES
UNSURE OF HOW TO PROCEED AND CONCURED ABOUT OUR RECEP-
TION TO FRIENDLY MOVES ON HIS PART. PERHAPS WE
REASSURED HIM.

YOUNG


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