Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–15, Part 1, Documents on Eastern Europe, 1973–1976

68. Telegram 77815 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Yugoslavia, April 17, 1974, 1726Z¹ ²

April 17, 1974, 1726Z.

TELEGRAM

Department of State

77815

R 171726Z APR 74

FM SECSTATE WASHDC

TO AMEMBASSY BELGRADE

INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK

STATE 077815

E.O. 11652: N/A

TAGS: PFOR, YU, US

SUBJECT: U.S.-YUGOSLAV BILATERAL RELATIONS

1. THE INITIAL FOCUS OF A FRANK DISCUSSION OF U.S.-YUGOSLAV BILATERAL RELATIONS DURING THE SECRETARY’S 40 MINUTE CONVERSATION WITH FOREIGN SECRETARY MINIC ON APRIL 15 WAS ON THE SECRETARY’S QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THERE WERE ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THESE RELATIONS. MINIC REPLIED THAT THE GENERAL LINE OF THESE RELATIONS WAS GOOD, IN SPITE OF UPS AND DOWNS. ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND INFORMATION RELATIONS HAD GOOD POSSIBILITIES FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

2. THE SUBSEQUENT EXCHANGE CENTERED ON THE GOY PERCEPTION THAT THE U.S. IN SEVERAL INSTANCES (PANAMA AND TRIESTE) HAD TRIED TO PUT PRESSURE ON YUGOSLAVIA’S NON-ALIGNED POSITION, AND THE U.S. PERCEPTION OF LAST YEAR THAT THE NON-ALIGNED GROUP WAS AUTOMATICALLY AND ENTHUSIASTICALLY ANTI-U.S. IN ITS POSITIONS. THE SECRETARY OBSERVED, HOWEVER, THAT IN RECENT MONTHS, U.S. POLICIES HAD BEEN SUBJECT TO LESS CRITICISM BY YUGOSLAVIA. HE STRESSED THAT THE U.S. HAD NO INTENTION OF PUTTING PRESSURE ON YUGOSLAVIA. THE DEMARCHE WE HAD MADE ON PANAMA HAD RESULTED FROM THE DIFFICULTIES YUGOSLAVIA HAD CAUSED BY ITS ACTIVITY, WHILE THE NAVAL VISIT TO TRIESTE (SEPTEL) HAD NO CONNECTION WITH THE YUGOSLAV-ITALIAN DISPUTE.

3. WHILE RECOGNIZING DIFFERENCES WOULD OCCUR, BOTH THE SECRETARY AND MINIC EMPHASIZED THAT THE GOVERNING PRINCIPLES OF U.S.-YUGOSLAV RELATIONS ESTABLISHED DURING THE MEETINGS OF PRESIDENT NIXON AND TITO IN BELGRADE AND WASHINGTON REMAINED VALID, WITH THE SECRETARY TWICE REITERATING THAT HE SAW YUGOSLAVIA’S NON-ALIGNMENT AS A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD PEACE. BOTH AGREED THAT CONVERSATION, WHICH WAS BOTH GOOD NATURED AND CANDID, HAD BEEN USEFUL AND THAT SUBSEQUENT HIGH-LEVEL CONTACTS WOULD, IN PRINCIPLE, BE DESIRABLE (SEPTEL).

KISSINGER

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 734, Country Files—;Europe—;Yugoslavia. Secret; EXDIS. Drafted by Baker and approved by Hartman. Repeated to USUN.
2. Secretary Kissinger met with Yugoslavian Foreign Minister Minic on April 15 to discuss bilateral relations and alleged U.S. challenges to Yugoslavia's non-aligned status.