EASTERN EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B00864A001200020066-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 21, 2006
• Sequence Number: 66
• Publication Date: September 13, 1972
• Content Type: STUDY

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#172 EASTERN EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCER OCI #0967/72
13 Sept 1972
State Dept. review completed
Romanian-Soviet Relations
The US Embassy in Bucharest reports that the probable
theme of the recent meetings between Ceausescu and Soviet
Ambassador Drozdenko and other Soviet-Romanian contacts has
been bilateral economic relations. To be sure, such relations
are of growing importance, but we believe that a much more
probable theme has been Bucharest's evident renewed interest
in international organizations. For example, the Romanians
plan to apply within the next few days for membership in the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank
for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank). Meanwhile,
Romania's permanent representative to the United Nations
recently proposed an obliquely anti-superpower item for
inclusion on the agenda of the upcoming session of the UNGA.
Like their initiative to the IMF and World Bank, the Romanian
UN item on "promoting norms of international law in interstate
relations" may cause some displeasure in Moscow.
The cast of participants in these recent meetings is
the main basis for our analytical position. In two of the
three meetings between Ceausescu and Drozdenko, Deputy
Foreign Minister Ecobescu participated. Charged with
responsibilities for the European socialist countries, the
Balkans, and the United Nations as well as his country's
leading expert on European security and disarmament matters,
Ecobescu's attendance suggests that IMF, the World Bank,
and European security probably were the major items under
discussion.
Ceausescu stressed "international financial organizations,"
European security and Balkan cooperation in his marathon ad-
dress to the national party conference in July. More than a
month later, the Ceausescu-Ecobescu meetings with Drozdenko
took place (between 23 and 31 August), while a meeting in
Moscow between the Romanian Ambassador and Katushev, a Soviet
party specialist on interparty relations, was held on
25 August. It would seem to us that Katushev would be splen-
didly equipped to discuss bloc solidarity but less able to 25X1
discuss economic relations.
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The only other high-level Romanian-Soviet.. talks were held
on 6 September between Ceausescu..and vacationing..Soviet Deputy
Premier Smirnov. The Romanian.media announced:that "problems
of economic. relations were tackled.". On the basis.of available
data, however, this session.-looksmore. like, a-probing action
by Moscow than. a negotiating one.
three day visit..to Yugoslavia.. as.confirmation of the. good state
of relations between the two states. Borba-(the. mouthpiece for
Yugoslavia's mass organization SAWPY),Tiowever, did add a
discordant note by reminding its readers that at. least some of
the terrorists.involved.in last:.July`s guerrilla attack in
Bosnia-Hercegovina. trained at a.secret.camp--in Austria.
Belgrade has found little.. to complain.. about. in Vienna's
reaction to that incident, and. as a. result..Aus.tro-Yugoslav
relations were not severely .damaged _and now appear.to be back
on the right track. Jonas'.trip may. be designed to smooth
over what ruffled. feelings.-.still..exist. He will. undoubtedly 25X1
assure the Yugoslavs that Vienna is doing..,its-best . to prevent
terrorists from. again usingAustrian soil from...which to launch
attacks on Yu oslavia..
Austrian President-in-Yugoslavia Today.
The Yugoslav. press is billing Austrian President Jonas'
The American-Embassy has.noted.an increasing number of
references to Czechoslovak-West German relations in speeches
during the last few days echoing the theme that Prague is
willing to contribute to..a positive solution to outstanding
problems.
The embassy noted a speech by-foreign Minister Chnoupek
on 3 September in which he talked of a contractual settlement
"in the shortest. time possible" and. before the West German
elections; a speech by party secretary.Kapek on 10 September
which claimed.. that no .further delays were. necessary; and a
Husak speech on the same day which talked about settling
problems in a "reasonable manner" and . did. not mention the
ab initio issue.
The embassy did not, however, consider these "necessarily"
as indicating a. change in the. Czech position. They may be a
fall-out of the alleged Crimea decision to help the Brandt
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like they have made in the past. Thus the. status of the talks
government. Czech leaders. can appear to be forthcoming without
making concessions. Chnoupek:in.a Pravda interview on
8 September repeated his.claim.that-set-Ttlement could come before
the elections but also. said. that Prague had already taken a
"whole series of steps to achieve a compromise" and implied that
it was Bonn's turn. The West German press. has. given prominent
coverage to. the positive statements from Prague, but official
Bonn circles see them. only as "encouraging" and as "public noises"
NOTE: THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ABOVE REPRESENT
ONLY THE ANALYSIS OF=THE EE BRANCH
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