Meeting With Somali Minister Kassim and Ambassador Addou

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?