123. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Libya1
13254. Subject: Message to Col. Qadhafi From President Carter.
1. (S) Entire text.
2. Charge Eagleton should seek an early appointment with Col. Qadhafi to deliver the following message from the President:
3. Begin text: Dear Col. Qadhafi: I have asked our Charge in Tripoli to deliver this message so we can establish a foundation for an equitable relationship, based on mutual respect, between our two countries. I appreciated your messages given to me by Ali el-Houderi of the Libyan People’s Bureau in Washington,2 and want to respond with equal candor.
Two things will be essential for a sound relationship between our two countries. First, our official representatives in Libya must be able to go about their duties safely and securely and they must be confident that they can call upon the Libyan authorities for assistance in assuring that security. I therefore welcomed your firm assurances about the future safety and well-being of our representatives. Second, I believe it is essential that your chief representative in Washington and my chief representative in Tripoli have regular access to senior decision makers. The head of the People’s Bureau in Washington will always be able to see us at a high level on important matters. We will plan to proceed on the same basis in Tripoli and would consequently appreciate your designating a close associate of yours with whom our chief representative in Tripoli could remain in close touch.
A sound relationship would help in discussing events of significance to both our countries. In this connection, I share your concern over the Soviet move into Afghanistan. The cynical Soviet reaction could be a chilling precedent for challenges to the integrity of other nations, including Afghanistan’s Muslim neighbors. It is obvious from the way the Soviet Union disposed of the Amin government that these neighbors can find little security through policies aimed at appeasing [Page 295] Moscow. It is up to all of us to help them to stand up to what could be an imminent Soviet challenge.
I would hope that you would instruct your representatives in New York and elsewhere to urge the representatives of other non-aligned and Muslim nations to make clear their united opposition to the Soviet action. Libya’s representations could be particularly effective with countries like Ethiopia and PDRY, nations that have concluded treaties of friendship and cooperation with the Soviet Union, similar to the one the USSR used to justify the overthrow of the Afghan Government, the execution of its President, and the occupation of that country.
Pakistan in particular will need support. We will be providing Pakistan with significant economic and military assistance. I hope you will be in touch with the Pakistani Government to ask what Libya could do to be helpful.
Iran could well be the next target of Soviet expansion. This threat is real and may become imminent if Iran’s leaders fail to strengthen the country’s internal cohesion and restore constructive relations with the West. Our ability to rebuild such a relationship, however, is totally frustrated by Iranian refusal to release the American hostages. It is time for them to resolve this matter so that they can turn their attention to the real threat. Perhaps you can persuade them to listen where we cannot.
It is my hope that the new year will see the beginning of a new page in Libyan-American relations. We are both men of faith and I hope that you will share my prayers for a peaceful and just solution to the problems that beset your region and our world. End text.
4. Talking points will follow septel.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Correspondence with Foreign Leaders File, Box 13, Libya: Secretary General Mu’ammar Qadhafi, 3/77–1/80. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Printed from a copy that was received in the White House Situation Room. Drafted by Roy; cleared by Coon, Draper, Sick, and Seitz and in S/P; approved by Newsom. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800029–0741)↩
- See Documents 117 and 119.↩