Information about the Status of the Operation Ethiopia (4 April 1988, 22:00 Hours)

[Handwritten note by Alexander Schalck-Golodkowski]

4 April 1988

16:45 Hours

Dear Egon,

As agreed, attached is the material about the status of loading arms and ammunition for the People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

With cordial greetings,

Alexander

The letter to GM [Günter Mittag] will be delivered on 5 April.

A. Schalck

Berlin, 4 April 1988

Information about the Status of the Operation Ethiopia

(4 April 1988, 22:00 Hours)

A. Air transportation

After the 129.8 tons of arms and ammunition departing with Interflug on 30 March 1988, on 4 April 1988 at 05:45 Hours additional 28.0 tons arrived in Addis Ababa.

The transport was done by a charter aircraft from Ethiopian Airlines.

The Ethiopian side is willing to do additional flights.

During the period between 5 April to 14 April 1988 a Boeing 707 will fly to Berlin-Schönefeld five times. The overall volume is about 140 tons.

The remaining about 100 tons will be transported by Interflug, including the government fleet, from 8 April 1988 after the Egyptian overflight clearance has been obtained.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is assessing that the overflight clearance by the Egyptian government will be granted.

B. Sea transport

The loading of the MS “Neuhausen” with 60 trucks W 50 and 973 tons of arms, ammunition, uniforms, and shoes is going according to plan.

Thanks to the great efforts by the forces from the Ministry for National Defense, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry for State Security, as well as by special forces of the sea transportation facilities, the loading will be finished ahead of time.

The MS “Neuhausen” will already depart on 5 April 1988 at 02:00 Hours. The MS “Neuhausen” will reach the Ethiopian port of Assab after 17 days,

The remaining 40 trucks W 50 will be shipped on 12 April 1988 with MS “Blankensee”.

It is suggested to mandate the Minister of Finances with guaranteeing the funding of the entire Operation Ethiopia in Mark of the GDR from the State Budget with the Ministers involved.

For the delivery of aims and ammunition, which were provided by the Unit Commercial Coordination from its own fonds of goods for export to the NSW (6.8 Million Valutamark plus shipping and handling costs that can be calculated exactly only after the end of the operation), the funding is to be guaranteed by the head of the Unit Commercial Coordination in convertible currency.

After the end of the Operation, it has to be attempted to hold negotiations with the Ethiopian side in order to receive in return at least in part domestic products in the value of our delivered products.

Asking for approval.

[handwritten] Alexander Schalck