meeting with somali minister kassim and ambassador addou
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Briefing paper for Zbigniew Brzezinski's meeting with Somalian Minister Kassim and
Ambassador Addou. Topics include: Somali-Soviet relations; U.S. arms sales to Somalia; Somali
invasion of Ethiopia; human rights' issues in Somalia.
Memo. National Security Council. SECRET. Issue Date: Dec 7, 1977.
MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
December 7, 1977
INFORMATION
MEMORANDUM FOR: ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI
FROM: PAUL B. HENZE
SUBJECT: Meeting with Somali Minister Kassim and Ambassador Addou
State has prepared a briefing paper (TAB A) for your meeting with Minister
Kassim, Ambassador Addou and two other members of Kassim's delegation at 9:30
a.m., Thursday, 8 December 1977.
Kassim has already met with Secretary Vance, who was disappointed that he had
nothing new to say. I have no quarrel with the suggested talking points in
State's memorandum, though there may be more than you actually want to say. I
suggest you emphasize a few simple themes:
- We are pleased the Somalis have broken with the Soviets, who bear a great
deal of the responsibility for leading them into the trouble in which they
now find themselves.
- We can supply no arms because the Somalis have invaded Ethiopia. Siad has
not answered President Carter's queries about how the fighting can be stopped
and negotiations can begin.
- We think the Somalis should be thinking seriously about how they can
extricate themselves from the predicament their Ogaden invasion has put them
in: wouldn't it be a good idea to think of proposing an arrangement that
would give the Ogaden autonomy while remaining under Ethiopian sovereignty?
(There is no assurance the Ethiopians would be willing to entertain such an
idea at all, of course, but it could be the basis for discussion.)
- The Somalis have complicated their situation needlessly by refusing to give
Kenya guarantees of border inviolability. Why can't they bring themselves to
do this in straightforward fashion?
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