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

94. Memorandum From Secretary of State Haig to President Reagan¹

Washington, February 3, 1982

SUBJECT

• My Visit to Romania February 12–13

Romanian President Ceausescu has invited me to visit Romania February 12–13. The visit provides an excellent opportunity to challenge the Soviet Union close to home. We believe President Ceausescu’s primary notice is the political symbolism involved. While the Romanians may raise financial or economic assistance issues, I intend to say these cannot be discussed while Romania’s debt is being rescheduled.

My visit should clarify to other countries in Eastern Europe and NATO that Romania continues to have meaningful relations with the United States, a viable alternative to being inexorably drawn deeper into the Soviet sphere of influence.

Romania’s foreign policy continues to follow a relatively independent line, often directly contrary to Soviet interests. This, despite the fact that Romania is currently facing great financial problems and feels threatened by the USSR as a result of the crisis in Poland.

Romania has recently taken a relatively even-handed stance on INF. Alone among Warsaw Pact countries, Romania has called for a reduction in Soviet missiles. Ceausescu has also made it plain that Romania would not participate were there a Warsaw Pact intervention in Poland, just as he was outspoken in his criticism of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and Afghanistan in 1979. Behind the scenes, Romania blocked Soviet efforts to gain Warsaw Pact support for an anti-American declaration on Cuba in 1981.

Our two-way trade with Romania is over one billion dollars a year. We have constructed a network of political, commercial and cultural ties which continue to operate to our benefit and provide an entree with which we are able to raise difficult emigration questions involving family reunification, Romanian Jews and human rights issues affecting Baptists and Pentecostals.

In sum, my visit will demonstrate support for Romania’s relative independence from Soviet dominance on the international scene. It will also maintain the opening we find useful for dealing with continuing bilateral economic and political issues. The trip will irritate the Soviets, but will give me an excellent chance to address the Polish situation in the heart of the Warsaw Pact.

1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Country File, Europe and Soviet Union, Romania (02/01/1982–02/14/1982). Confidential. A stamped notation indicates that it was received in the White House on February 3 at 9:49 a.m.