Honecker gives a positive assessment of the consultation between the GDR delegation led by Werner Lamberz in Tripoli in December 1977. He comments on the most common position in the struggle against imperialism in the Arab countries and Africa and commits to extended East German-Libyan cooperation on political, economic and military levels. Honecker confirms the planned visit of a Libyan military delegation to Berlin, the planned first meeting of a common government committee, as well as the deployment of a temporary GDR representative to Tripoli.
November 29, 1977
Letter, Erich Honecker to the General Secretary of the People's Congress of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Colonel Muammar al-Qaddafi
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To the General Secretary of the
General People's Congress of the
Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Muammar al-G a d d a f i
T r i p o l i
================================
Dear Comrade Muammar al-Gaddafi!
The Politburo of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany has concerned itself in detail with the situation in the Near and Middle East. It has followed recent developments in the region with concern.
The Socialist Unity Party of Germany is assessing very highly the significant contribution, which the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and you personally, Comrade Muammar al-Gaddafi, have made and are undertaking pertaining to the union of all progressive forces and states in the Middle East and for defending against the machinations of imperialism, Zionism, and the Arab reaction.
With the same concern our party leadership is monitoring the plans of imperialism and the reaction at the Horn of Africa and in the South of Africa.
Our party leadership is considering it as necessary to consult about these problems with you, dear Comrade Muammar al-Gaddafi, in person. Furthermore, we have the intention to meet with representatives of the Palestinian revolution in Tripoli for political consultations. For this urgent reason, I want to send to you as my special envoy Comrade Werner Lamberz, member of the Politburo and Secretary of the Central Committee of the SED. The visit by Comrade Lamberz will also allow for talking about further measures to implement our bilateral relations in all areas according to the agreements signed in early October 1977.
I am asking you to receive Comrade Werner Lamberz in Tripoli on 7th or 8th December 1977. I am attributing to the talks with you great importance, and I am assuring you of our energetic support for the just anti-imperialist struggle of the Arab nation and the Palestinian people.
With fraternal greetings
[handwritten signature] E. Honecker
Erich Honecker
Berlin, 29 November 1977
Honecker thanks Qaddafi for his contributions to the cause of the movement of progressive states in the Middle East and the defense against imperialism and Zionism. He expresses concern about the conflict in the Horn of Africa region and wants to arrange a meeting of GDR representative Werner Lamberz with Qaddafi in Tripoli. Further proposed topics for this meeting include talks with representatives of the Palestinian revolution and the continuing development of East German-Libyan relations. (There is a telegram from 1 December 1977 signed by Hermann Axen that refers to this meeting.)
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SAPMO-BA, IV 2/2.033/125. Translated by Bernd Schaefer.
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