EASTERN EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B00864A001200020076-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 9, 2006
• Sequence Number: 76
• Publication Date: August 25, 1972
• Content Type: STUDY

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#162 EASTERN EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCER OCI #0959/72
25 August 1972
Yugoslav Defense Minister Arrives In Moscow
Defense Minister Ljubicic arrived in Moscow on
24 August for what is billed as a "holiday." There
was no previous announcement of the trip, nor does
the press coverage of his arrival indicate how long
he will stay. Ljubicic met with Soviet Defense Minister
Grechko shortly after arriving for talks which were
described as passing in an atmosphere of "friendship
and mutual understanding."
Despite the apparent suddenness of the trip and
the lack of publicity preceeding it, the visit appears
to be routine. Most likely, Ljubicic is repaying Grechko's
visit to Yugoslavia in late March and early April.
Ljubicic last visited the Soviet Union in May 1970.
At that time, he was shopping for Soviet arms. The
possibility cannot be ruled out that some talk of Yugo-
slav purchases of Soviet arms will take place this time --
particularly in view of the fact that Belgrade is known
to have approached Paris recently on the possibility
of buying French arms.
Today Eastern Europe, Tommorrow the World?
On 24 August, a Chinese IL-62 arrived in Tirana
following a probable stopover in Bucharest. The flight
appears to be a test run, preliminary to inaugurating
regularly scheduled service to Eastern Europe. I
China's entry into intercontinental air service
will connect Peking with Bucharest and Tirana, the
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capitals of China's closest friends in Eastern Europe,
while inclusion of Belgrade as a point on the route
suggests developing ties with Yugoslavia. Other stops
in Pakistan and Iran will flesh out the route.
Chinese acquisition of Soviet IL-62's and negotia-
tions with Boeing for 707's indicate that a twice-weekly
service from China to Eastern Europe is imminent. China
reportedly has at least two IL-62's that are capable of
transporting 189 passengers 5000 miles. Two of these
four engine craft are sufficient for immediate bi-weekly
service to Eastern Europe and contracts have been delivered
for a minimum of three additional planes that will pre-
sumably be employed to expand service to other communist
countries with a direct route to Moscow. No service to
Western Europe or beyond has yet been determined, but
informed observers speculate that the PRC will either
extend its routes "westward" or add separate links to
cities in Western Europe and Africa.
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