Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XXIV, North Africa

29. Memorandum From Paula Dobriansky of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark)¹

Washington, September 29, 1983

SUBJECT

• Report on the Vice Presidential Trip to North Africa and Eastern Europe

As you know, I accompanied the Vice President on his recent trip to North Africa² and Eastern Europe, covering seven countries in ten days. I found the trip to be fascinating, challenging and immensely rewarding. I was proud to have been able to partake in this important endeavor.

On this visit, the Vice President sought to clarify U.S. policies and objectives in a regional and global context and to gain new insight into Magreb and East European thinking. Specifically, in North Africa, the Vice President discussed such issues as the Western Sahara, the Lebanon crisis, and prospects for a Middle East settlement, as well as bilateral trade and economic matters.

[Omitted here is information unrelated to North Africa.]

In addition to the private exchange of views, the trip had an important public diplomacy dimension. The Vice President’s presence in individual North African and East European countries underscored the importance which we attach to maintaining an informed and assertive policy in these regions. The Vice President delivered two major foreign policy speeches. His speech in Algiers cogently affirmed U.S. support for a policy of genuine non-alignment and reiterated our position that the fostering of a free market economy represents the best hope for Third World economic development.³ The Vice President’s speech in Vienna provided the most authoritative exposition to date of the Administration’s policy of differentiation toward Eastern Europe.⁴

In sum, the trip to North Africa and Eastern Europe was a resounding success. The Vice President established a personal rapport with the primary leaders in these countries and thus, contributed to the furtherance of our bilateral relations. He also succeeded in conveying both frankly and convincingly Administration views on significant bilateral and international issues.

Morocco

Given Morocco’s strong ties with the United States⁵ and King Hassan’s successful meeting with President Reagan in 1982,⁶ it was not surprising that the Vice President was warmly welcomed in Rabat. In fact, he was treated as a head of state. He was greeted with a 19-gun salute and was received immediately by King Hassan without the customary waiting period. Their meeting was conducted in a friendly atmosphere and covered a wide range of issues such as Lebanon, Qadhafi, the Middle East settlement and the Western Sahara. In these discussions, the King purposefully chose not to request any economic assistance. However, our Ambassador and other Embassy officials clearly described the critical state of the Moroccan economy and strongly recommended urgent U.S. assistance. (See Ambassador Reed’s letter to the Vice President at Tab A.)⁷

During our stay in Rabat, most of us found Moroccan officials to be somewhat uneasy. In private conversation, one got the impression that they were concerned about the Vice President’s stop in Algeria and hoped that the potential strengthening of U.S.-Algerian relations would not develop at Morocco’s expense. The Vice President’s trip to Morocco was capped by a visit to the ancient city of Fez where he was cheered by the local inhabitants.⁸

Algeria

The Vice President’s meetings in Algeria were marked by a cordial atmosphere and represented a significant milestone in the development of U.S.-Algerian relations. As this was the first visit to Algeria of an American official of such rank, the Algerians perceived this event as a manifestation of our interest in intensified bilateral political dialogue. The Vice President engaged in very fruitful exchanges with both President Bendjedid and Foreign Minister Ibrahimi.⁹ In fact, Bendjedid invited the Vice President and Mrs. Bush to dinner at his home and introduced them to his family.

In the various discussions, the Algerians stressed the importance of the principles of self-determination and non-alignment in Algerian foreign policy which stem from their revolutionary experience. Of the issues discussed, the topics of Western Sahara and Moroccan-Algerian relations were the most prominent. The Algerians expressed some concern that U.S. military assistance to King Hassan might diminish his incentive to negotiate on the Western Sahara settlement and that the existence of U.S. bases in Morocco might prejudice U.S. reaction to a possible Moroccan-Algerian conflict. The Vice President vigorously refuted both claims.

The Algerian visit was concluded by the Vice President’s address on U.S. views of non-alignment and North-South economic issues. His remarks were well received.

Tunisia

A model of economic and social development in the Arab world, Tunisia continues to emphasize domestic progress. Thus, most of the discussion focused on such issues as education, family planning and the role of women in social and economic development. In his meeting with the Vice President, President Bourguiba proudly pointed out that Tunisia has done more for women’s liberation than any other Arab country. Specifically, they have ensured equality of educational opportunities, have promoted women’s political participation, and have outlawed polygamy.

President Bourguiba also chided us for grain sales and technology transfers to the USSR and stated that we should show greater interest in transferring technology to our friends such as Tunisia. Lebanon was briefly discussed. During the luncheon, President Bourguiba interrupted the Vice President’s toast and asserted that Begin refused to withdraw from Lebanon. In reply, the Vice President aptly pointed out that the U.S. is committed to the withdrawal of all foreign troops and that it is primarily Syrian intransigence that poses the main obstacle to a Lebanese settlement.

Even though it was not originally scheduled, the Vice President consented to meet with the Secretary General of the Arab League, Klibi, at his request.¹⁰ This encounter was very useful as the Vice President strongly communicated U.S. resolve in seeking a peaceful Lebanese settlement and indicated that if attacks on the U.S. Marine contingent persist we would do what was necessary to ensure their security.

[Omitted here is information unrelated to North Africa.]

1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Country File, Africa, Africa General (07/20/1983–10/01/1983). Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Printed from an initialed copy. A copy was sent to Bush.
2. See Document 28.
3. Excerpts of Bush’s September 14 address at the El Aurassi Hotel are in telegram 3935 from Algiers, September 15. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830533–0534) The address is printed in full in Department of State Bulletin, November 1983, pp. 11–14.
4. A transcript of Bush’s September 21 speech in Vienna is in telegram 11579 from Vienna, September 21. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830545–1038) For text of the speech, see Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. I, Foundations of Foreign Policy, Document 168.
5. We have enjoyed the longest unbroken treaty relationship with Morocco dating back to 1787. [Footnote is in the original.]
6. Reagan and Hassan met at the White House on May 19, 1982.
7. Not attached is Reed’s September 13 letter.
8. I was pleased to learn that we are building a VOA transmitter in Rabat to broadcast to the USSR/East Europe. [Footnote is in the original.]
9. A record of Bush’s September 14 conversation with Ibrahimi is in telegram 9899 from Bucharest, September 18. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830540–0309)
10. A record of the Bush-Klibi conversation is in telegram 9893 from Bucharest, September 18. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D830540–0296)