Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XIX, South Asia

57. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Washington, August 27, 1980, 1:30–2:15 p.m.

SUBJECT

• The President’s Meeting with President Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh

PARTICIPANTS

• The President
• The Secretary of State
• Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski
• Thomas Ehrlich, Director, IDCA
• Henry Owen, Special Representative for International Summits
• David Schneider, Ambassador to Bangladesh
• Jane A. Coon, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
• Gerald A. Funk, NSC Staff
• President Zia
• Foreign Minister Shamsul Huq
• Agriculture Minister Nurul Islam
• Information Consultant Daud Khan Majlis
• Ambassador Tabarak Husain
• Additional Foreign Secretary, Ataul Karim
• Director General, Mr. M.R. Osmany, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The President met privately with President Zia for about 25 minutes and then joined the others in the Cabinet Room.²

President Carter said he was pleased and honored to receive President Zia in Washington. President Carter reviewed the subjects covered in their private meeting, indicating that there was a remarkable compatibility in the goals of the two countries. He noted President Zia’s leadership in the Muslim world and in the region. He referred with pleasure to Bangladesh’s contributions in the Security Council and especially commended President Zia’s speech the previous day to the Special Session of the General Assembly, noting Zia’s reference to the need for concessional petroleum prices and greater investment by OPEC countries in underdeveloped countries.³ President Carter said he was impressed with Bangladesh’s efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency and noted that this would be a great achievement. He said the U.S. will continue its commitment to assist Bangladesh’s development until that time when Bangladesh can achieve self-sufficiency and perhaps even become a food exporter. He also noted with pleasure the progress made under Zia to democratize the political structure and attain domestic stability. (C)

President Carter noted that the two Presidents had discussed the aggressive challenge posed by the Soviets in Afghanistan and elsewhere. He also remarked on the benefits of the growing friendship of both countries with China. The President reported that President Zia had told him about his recent visit to China, which included seven hours of discussions with Chairman Hua. (C)

The President expressed appreciation for Bangladesh’s help on the hostage issue⁴ and hoped that President Zia’s tenacity and enthusiasm will not wane. A resolution of this problem would contribute to the stability of the whole region. (C)

President Zia responded by expressing his appreciation to President Carter for making his time available during a very busy period. Referring to the political campaign, Zia said he wished to see President Carter’s reelection and prayed for it. He agreed that the views of the two Presidents were nearly identical. He expressed appreciation for the support of the American people during the 1971 War of Independence and the generous assistance provided for his assurance of support in the future. (C)

President Zia referred to Bangladesh’s development plans and described the voluntary efforts in Bangladesh to dig canals and increase irrigation in order to expand food production. Secretary Muskie observed that there ought to be a way to tell the story of Bangladesh as an illustration of the value of providing assistance to the developing world. President Zia commented on the enormous dimensions of his problems, given Bangladesh’s population of nearly 90 million people, but he stressed his commitment to quick and speedy development with food, education and family planning as highest priorities. He said he personally spent about 20 days each month touring the countryside and visiting projects. (C)

President Zia affirmed that Bangladesh’s stand on Afghanistan and Kampuchea⁵ was taken on principle and that these principles were especially important to smaller countries. He said that Bangladesh will do everything possible to help in the stabilization of the South Asian region. He mentioned Bangladesh’s proposal for a South Asian Forum or Conference⁶ and said that such a grouping might help regarding Afghanistan. (C)

President Carter asked when President Zia’s proposed six-nation South Asian conference might take place. President Zia replied that Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka had responded positively; India had agreed in principle, and the Pakistani President had reacted positively and agreed to examine the issue when the two had discussed this proposal at Tito’s funeral. He was hopeful that the gathering would take place. He assured the President that Bangladesh would do anything possible for world peace and stability. (C)

Responding to a question regarding Bangladesh oil imports, President Zia said that Bangladesh would import over two million tons next year and expressed appreciation for the U.S. proposal to help find oil and additional natural gas resources in Bangladesh.⁷ President Carter remarked that he had met with Congressional leaders that morning⁸ to discuss programs of the IMF and World Bank and he hoped they would invest more in efforts to find new oil and gas resources and to encourage food production. (C)

President Zia said he would like to raise a subject and leave it for our consideration. Bangladesh needed to build up its defense forces. He was aware of U.S. policies in this regard but felt it was necessary to raise the subject. He noted that following the 1971 War Bangladesh had had to develop its armed forces from an absolute zero. Bangladesh did not need advanced weapons but did need some radar and aircraft for the Air Force as well as such things as missile boats for the Navy. (C)

Dr. Brzezinski asked about Bangladesh’s perception of the threat, and Zia responded by mentioning Southeast Asia, India and even Burma, noting the communist influence in Eastern India and the Burmese insurgent problem. (C)

At the conclusion of the meeting the two Presidents spoke to the press which was assembled outside the White House.⁹ (U)

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 38, Memcons: President: 8–11/80. Confidential. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room. Zia was in Washington for 8 hours on August 27.
2. Carter and Zia meet privately in the Oval Office from 1:30 to 1:50 p.m. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials, President’s Daily Diary) No memorandum of conversation of this meeting was found.
3. In a August 26 memorandum, Brzezinski informed Carter that Zia “made two significant proposals in his address to the UNGA Special Session: That OPEC cut prices to LDC’s by 50%” and “That OPEC invest in LDC’s.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, North/South, Thornton Country File, Box 91, Bangladesh: Zia/Carter Meetings: 4–9/80)
4. See Document 52.
5. Bangladesh supported the ASEAN resolution at the 34th United Nations General Assembly that called on Vietnam to withdraw its forces from Cambodia (Kampuchea). UNGA Resolution 34/22 was adopted on November 14, 1979. For the text of the resolution, see Yearbook of the United Nations, 1979, pp. 306–307.
6. Telegram 2762 from Dacca, May 16, reported that at a May 15 press conference, Huq announced that “Bangladesh has proposed a summit meeting of six South Asian countries to ‛explore the possibilities of creating a forum for consultation and development of cooperation on a regional basis.’” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800246–1009)
7. No record was found of this proposal.
8. Carter’s meeting with Members of Congress took place from 8:15 until 8:29 a.m. (Carter Library, Presidential Materials, President’s Daily Diary)
9. See Public Papers: Carter, 1980–81, Book II, pp. 1577–1579.