Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume X, Eastern Europe

241. Telegram From the Embassy in Yugoslavia to the Department of State¹

6549.

Belgrade, July 2, 1987, 0941Z

SUBJECT

• Ambassador’s Demarche on ANO Activities in Yugoslavia.

REF

• State 198861.²

1. S—Entire text.

2. On July 1 the Ambassador called on Acting Federal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Budimir Loncar to repeat the demarche made by Under Secretary Armacost to Yugoslav Ambassador Kovacevic (reftel). The Ambassador went over the main points of the Under Secretary’s demarche emphasizing the significance of the factual information obtained from Ahmad.³ Loncar listened carefully and read the Embassy’s “non-paper”⁴ containing the facts obtained from Ahmad. He said that with the possible exception of the mention of “another ANO member” in Skopje, the information was the same as had been given to Kovacevic. All this information had already been given to the Yugoslav authorities responsible for such matters, he said, and the GOY expected to be able to provide a report to the U.S.G. within a few days.

3. Loncar said he had one objection to the U.S. presentation. Armacost had again brought up alleged information about some kind of ANO operations in Europe and in Yugoslavia. Armacost had referred to former Ambassador Anderson’s demarche to Stane Dolanc.⁵ Loncar said this had sounded as though the matter had not been clarified. But the GOY had clarified it. Dolanc had provided a very clear and open reply. Dolanc outlined our policy against international terrorism and he said there were no grounds for the alleged information that Abu Nidal was operating in Yugoslavia and that Yugoslavia tolerated this to avoid terrorist activity inside Yugoslavia. This charge is a groundless fabrication. Loncar emphasized that Dolanc’s comments should have been taken by the USG as very precise and responsible, yet now this matter is mentioned again as though it were not settled. This surprised us, said Loncar, and, in the context of asking for our cooperation, it did not sound good. The reply of Dolanc should be taken as absolutely competent and final and in line with our mutual commitment to cooperate against international terrorism.

4. Loncar concluded his remarks by repeating that the GOY hoped to provide a response very soon. This is of interest not only to the U.S. but also to Yugoslavia, he said.

Scanlan

1. Source: Reagan Library, Rudolf Perina Files, Subject File, Yugoslavia—Bilateral 1987. Secret; Immediate; Exdis.
2. Telegram 198861 to Belgrade, June 27, outlined the démarche on the Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) delivered by Armacost to Yugoslav Ambassador Kovacevic. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, D870686–0742)
3. Muhmud Al-Abid Ahmad, ANO control officer for North and South America.
4. Not found.
5. See Document 221.