Journal of Soviet Ambassador in the DPRK A.M. Puzanov for 27 October 1960

SOVIET EMBASSY [faded USSR TOP SECRET

IN THE DPRK MFA stamp:   Copy Nº 1

0914-gs

19 January 1961

31 December 1960

Nº 169

JOURNAL

of Soviet Ambassador in the DPRK Cde. A. M. PUZANOV

from 19 October through 7 November 1960

[…]

27 October 1960

I visited acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Jeong-sik and at the instructions of Moscow informed him that at the end of October an economic mission of the government of Cuba was arriving in Moscow headed by E. Guevara with the object of discussing with representatives of the Soviet Union the volume and structure of the trade turnover between Cuba and the Soviet Union for 1961 and the resolution of some issues which would permit the long-range planning of foreign trade to be accomplished, including issues of economic development. E. Guevara will be in Moscow from 29 October through 14 November.

I also said that Guevara, as he reported, along with the talks which his delegation will hold with representatives of the Soviet Government, the government of Cuba will attach great importance to holding "round table" talks in Moscow with representatives of the socialist countries in order for Cuba to solve problems together with them about the volume and structure of its trade. I then added that the Cuban government evidently is to turn to the governments of the socialist countries on this issue. However, inasmuch as our government considers it possible to provide such a request has already come to the Soviet government, our government considers it possible to inform interested governments of socialists countries about this.

Ri Jeong-sik expressed gratitude for the information and said that this will be reported to the DPRK government.

In connection with the interest displayed by Ri Jeong-sik to the proposal of the Cuban government for representatives of socialist countries to hold talks in Moscow I informed him that the Soviet government has a positive attitude toward the proposal of the Cuban government.

[…]

SOVIET AMBASSADOR IN THE DPRK [signature] (A. Puzanov)

Five copies sent vp

1 - Cde. A. A. Gromyko

2 - Cde. Yu. V. Andropov

3 - Cde. V. I. Tugarinov

4 - UVPI MID SSSR

5 - to file

Nº 556 31 December 1960