EASTERN EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B00864A000800010119-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 17, 2010
• Sequence Number: 119
• Publication Date: January 31, 1968
• Content Type: REPORT

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23 EASTERN EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCER OCI #0683/68 8
31 January J98
East Germans Agitated Over Soviet Contacts With West Berliners
West Berlin Senat press chief Hanns Peter Herz informed
that his Soviet 25X1
contacts had told him that the GDR recently protested to the
Soviet Embassy against the increasing number of contacts
between Soviet officials and West Berliners. The East Germans
reportedly argued that such contacts should be handled by them
rather than the Russians.
To placate the East Germans, the Soviets allegedly recently
set up a special West Berlin section in the Embassy under
Councellor V. N. Beletsky. This section is to have formal
responsibility for developing contacts in West Berlin. 25X1
COMMENT: The East Germans may have approached the Soviets
25X1
concerning their activities in West Berlin, but, 125X1
the reported reason behind the GDR action is 25X1
inconsistent with the completely negative reaction of the regime
to West Berlin/West German initiatives.
If the East Germans "protested" Soviet activities in West
Berlin before December, the recent meeting between West Berlin
Governing Mayor Schuetz and Soviet Ambassador Abrasimov muse,
have triggered a rather violent reaction in East Berlin.
If the Soviet Embassy has established a "special West Berlin
section," it has merely formalized a long standing arrangement
under which Beletsky acted as the referent for West Berlin
matters.
Issue of East German View of West Germany Raised Again
The West German news agency, DPA, reported on 29 January
that Peter Florin, now East German Ambassador to Prague and
a GDR "expert" on foreign affairs, has resurrected the issu:,
of whether the GDR should consider West Germany a "foreign
state."
According to DPA, Florin has written a 160-page document
entitled "On the Foreign Policy of the Sovereign Socialist GDR."
In this document, Florin stated that the GDR's relations with
the Federal Republic belong "properly in the sphere of foreign
GROUP I
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DOWNGRADING AND DECLASSIFICATION
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policy," for the German nation today is "constituted essentially
of the citizenry of two German states . . . so that relations
between the two are a foreign political problem."
Florin also highlighted the issue of West German access
to West Berlin. He reiterated the GDR claim that West Gern;an
"expansionist" politicians are being "illegally conveyed" to
Berlin by the occupation powers "in violation of the GDR's
sovereign air space." Florin also reiterated the old East
German offer to conclude "proper interstate agreements" on
traffic to and from Berlin with the US, UK, and France.
25X1
25X1
COMMENT: We have received no other information on Florin's
treatise. He has been Ambassador to Czechoslovakia since
September, however, and it is somewhat questionable that ht,
found time to dash off a 160-page document while in Prague.
This document, if it does exist, may be a dissertation which
Florin wrote during 1966 while he attended a "special" school,
ostensibly studying economics,
In any case, the appearance of Florin's remarks concerning
the GDR regarding West Germany as a foreign state is rather
strange. A similar statement by Albert Norden on 18 December
caused a furor, and the East Germans backed away from this 25X1
extreme position almost immediately. They later went to some
lengths to make clear they did not" ard West Germany as fi
foreign country.
Bulgarian Unrest
Recent price increases, party leader Zhivkov's illnes?.
and the postponement of his Cuban visit have combined to
stimulate further rumors of discontent in Bulgaria. Receni
examples of the stories circulating in gossip-prone Sofia
include an attempt on Zhivkov's life resulting in his chauffeur
being shot, and the arrest of up to 2,000 Sofia price-hike
complainers. There is continuing dissent about the price 25X1
rise within party circles and Zhivkov reportedly had to bring
full pressure to bear to gain support for the price increa:-e.
COMMENT: Popular discontent because of price rises it
natural, but there is no reason to believe that it poses a
serious threat to Zhivkov who last appeared in public on
25 January. The Bulgarian press has announced that Zhivko,%
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is i:11 with "severe catarphal angina (sore throat) with ear
complications." High-level disagreement about the advisability
of price increases also is plausible and may account for tho
denials made in December of the price increases introduced
in January.
Rumanian Official Comments on Regime's Goals in 1968
Rumania's two main goals in 1968 are developing the
country's industrial base and playing the role of a mediator
in foreign affairs, according to Rumanian Foreign Trade Minister
Cioara. In making these points to a group of Rumanian trad,
officials early last November, Cioara added that increased
industrialization would be accomplished with the assistance
of West Germany, France, Italy, and hopefully the US. He also
noted that Bucharest's greater cooperation.'.with Western countries
would oblige Rumania to change its "economic spirit," i.e.,
Rumania would continue to operate within the framework of
Communism, but this would be a new type of Communism.
COMMENT: While we do not expect anything dramatically
different in Bucharest's type of Communism--it already has
carved out quite an independent niche for itself within the
movement--Cioara's remarks generally ring true, particularly
with respect to closer cooperation with Italy. Rumanian
Premier Maurer and. Foreign Minister Manescu completed an
official visit to Italy on 23 January and met with Pope Paul VI
the next day. Another Rumanian source recently said that the
"Vatican and the Italians are now essential to Rumania."
Hungarian Premier Fock to Visit France
A visit by Hungarian Premier Jeno Fock is being arranged,
according to the French Foreign Office desk officer for
Eastern Europe. The date for this visit has not been set
more specifically than "about a month from now," and neither
country has announced the visit as yet. The desk officer
also reports that, in addition to De Gaulle's May visit to
Rumania, there would be working level consultations in Belgrade
toward the end of February and consultations in Prague at an
unspecified date.
COMMENT: The Budapest Conference is tentatively scheculed
for 26 February through 4 March so Fock will probably visit
France later than the French expect.
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Polish Party Congress in May?
25X1
25X1
since changes in the current Polish leadership are "inevitable."
The visit in mid-January of the three Soviet leaders to
Poland was made for the purpose of discussing the congress
and the personnel changes.
COMMENT: Party statutes call for a congress every fou:-
years; the last was held in June 1964. No date for this year's
conclave has yet been announced. 25X1
The actual timing pro a y
will reflect Gomulka's difficulties in constructing a new
factional balance in the party, a task which he will want to
accomplish before the congress.
Although the visit of the Soviet troika to Poland
probably included discussions on internal Polish problems,
the fact that the Soviets continued on to East Germany indi-
cates that events in Czechoslovakia and Berlin/Germany were
at least equally important topics of discussion.
NOTE: THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ABOVE REPRESENT
ONLY THE ANALYSIS OF THE EE DIVISION
The congress must be convened 'soon ,
25X1
25X1
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