209. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Romania1
256604. For the Ambassador. Subject: The Secretary’s October 2 Meeting at UNGA With Foreign Minister Andrei.
Romanian Participants
Stefan Andrei, Foreign Minister
Teodor Marinescu, Ambassador to the United Nations
Mircea Mitran, Special Assistant to the Foreign Minister (Interpreter)
US Participants
The Secretary
Matthew Nimetz, Counselor
Carl Schmidt, Director, EUR/EE (notetaker)
1. Summary—Andrei stressed the importance which President Ceausescu attaches to good US-Romanian relations and to elimination of issues which impede their further development. Andrei said the fact that the US allowed Pacepa to come here has created tensions, and he requested the US to cease all “covert activities” against Romania. The Secretary said we understand Romania’s concerns but we must now put this case behind us. Andrei said Romania would continue to strive to solve emigration problems in a humanitarian spirit. He said some progress had been made in resolving export license problems, but Romania wished to accelerate the process. The Secretary indicated we had worked hard to make progress in this area and cited recent consideration of a license for the Rom-Control Data joint venture as a positive example. Andrei appealed for more liberal treatment of Romanian exports. The Secretary accepted in principle an invitation to visit Romania. He reiterated the strong interest of the US in continuing to expand relations with Romania, and expressed appreciation for Romania’s cooperative efforts on various international issues. The Secretary and Andrei briefly reviewed the status of the Camp David Accords, and issues involving Lebanon and Greece-Turkey. End summary.
2. Introductory comments—Andrei said he was aware how very busy the Secretary was, and therefore he was especially grateful that he had made time available to meet. President Ceausescu had asked [Page 653] him to convey, through the Secretary, greetings of friendship to President Carter and best wishes for health and success. Ceausescu recalled with pleasure his most recent visit to the United States. Andrei gave the Secretary a book, on behalf of Ceausescu, commemorating the visit. The Secretary expressed appreciation and said the President continues to talk about his meetings with President Ceausescu and their importance for relations between the two countries. The President strongly believes that it was a most positive and constructive visit. He had asked that his own warmest regards be conveyed to President Ceausescu.
3. Bilateral relations—Andrei said that, in a meeting with President Ceausescu just before leaving for the UNGA, he had directed Andrei to make clear that he intends to carry out all of the understandings reached during his US visit both with respect to bilateral cooperation and to international issues. Ceausescu, Andrei said, attaches great importance to good US-Romanian relations and to their further development. Based on Ceausescu’s desire to create the best conditions for development of relations and to eliminate matters not consistent with this approach, Andrei said, he wished to present several issues in which he would request our cooperation in eliminating. He would talk openly as the Secretary and the President had talked with President Ceausescu during his visit. Andrei said the two countries should not allow certain issues to cast a shadow over our good bilateral relations. President Ceausescu was convinced that President Carter would appreciate the constructive manner in which these matters were being raised.
4. The Pacepa case—To be frank, Andrei said, the fact that the US Government has given the right of entry and stay to Pacepa has created certain tensions, especially in light of the personal, friendly relations established earlier between the two Presidents. It was GOR’s view, based on its information, that Pacepa had worked for the CIA for several years. However, Andrei said, the US had a different view on this question. Romania requested that the US cease all types of such activities vis-a-vis Romania. It was not through such covert actions, Andrei said, that good bilateral relations had developed. Nor was it through covert activities that Romania had contributed to establishment of US–PRC relations, to the negotiations to end the Vietnam war, to direct contacts between Begin and Sadat and to a general resolution of the Middle East conflict. Andrei said he was persuaded that the Secretary understood these considerations.
5. The Secretary, in response, said the US understands Romania’s concerns regarding the Pacepa case. President Carter believes strongly that we must now put this matter behind us. Also, the Secretary said, he wished to reiterate his strong interest and that of the President in continuing the excellent relations which had developed between the US and Romania. With regard to the Minister’s reference to cooperation [Page 654] on various international issues, the Secretary said, this had been extremely helpful to us. We appreciated these efforts and we would like to continue the beneficial exchange of views through our Embassies on such issues as the PRC and the Middle East.
6. Divided families—Andrei referred to emigration and said Romania had strived to solve emigration problems in a humanitarian spirit and would continue to do so in the future. The Secretary said he appreciated the Foreign Minister’s initiative in mentioning this issue. As we had made clear in the past, it was very important to us that humanitarian problems be addressed and solved in a satisfactory way.
7. Trade—Andrei said he had recently discussed with Nimetz Romania’s interest in resolving export license problems. Some progress had been achieved but Romania would still like to accelerate the process for license approvals. Also, Romania would like to see more liberal treatment of its exports to the United States. The Secretary said we had worked hard to move forward in export licensing. We recognize the importance of joint ventures and our recent decision concerning another license for the Control Data Corporation joint venture was a good example of our efforts in this regard.
8. Visit by the Secretary—Andrei said President Ceausescu wished to renew his invitation to the Secretary to make at least a brief visit to Romania. Such a visit would have a positive impact on our relations by helping to clear away issues which have arisen. It would also be a visible sign that we were overcoming them. No less important, Andrei said, a visit would provide an opportunity for a full discussion of international issues. Ceausescu would like to discuss with the Secretary issues concerning the Middle East, Europe, and elsewhere. The Secretary said he was pleased to accept the invitation in principle. He would have to leave the question of timing to later, however, since at the moment he was very occupied with follow-up to the Camp David Summit and other matters.
9. International issues—Andrei expressed appreciation for President Carter’s message following the Camp David Summit and asked about the current situation. The Secretary said the follow-up steps were moving as expected. Negotiations on the Sinai Agreement, chaired by the US, would begin in Washington on October 12. He was confident negotiations would move rapidly; there could be an agreement between Israel and Egypt as early as mid-November. Responding to Andrei’s questions, the Secretary said King Hussein was torn between joining in the negotiations on the West Bank and Gaza or staying out to see what would develop. Hussein would have to be careful but, the Secretary said, he believed he would begin to participate in a careful and measured way. Regarding Palestinian refugees, the Secretary said the US believes a meeting of all the concerned parties should be convened [Page 655] to resolve the problem. There has been too much talk and too little action. The Secretary also expressed concern about the situation in Lebanon, noting that the problem should be addressed in a comprehensive rather than fragmented way. Andrei referred to Greek-Turkish problems, and the Secretary noted that he had just seen Cypriot President Kyprianou.2 All the parties were in agreement that a solution must be found regarding Cyprus. The Greek-Turkish dispute concerning the Aegean was very difficult, the Secretary said, and he suggested that Romania join with others in urging the two countries to find a lasting resolution to these issues.
10. The Secretary and Andrei met for almost 30 minutes. Immediately following their meeting, Counselor Nimetz continued the discussion of international issues with Andrei.3 Nimetz briefly described the status of SALT negotiations, and responded to several additional questions from Andrei concerning the Camp David Accords and the Lebanese situation.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780414–1133. Confidential; Priority, Exdis. Sent for information to USUN. Drafted by Schmidt; cleared by Nimetz; approved by George H. Mitchell in S.↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XXI, Cyprus; Turkey; Greece, Document 55.↩
- No record of the separate conversation was found.↩