Letter from Erich Honecker to Hafez al-Assad

Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany

The General Secretary

State Council of the German Democratic Republic

The Chairman

General Secretary of the

Arab Socialist Baath Party and

President of the

Syrian Arab Republic

Comrade Hafez al-Assad

D a m a s c u s

Dear Comrade Hafez al-Assad!

Since my last meeting with you [on 12 October 1982 in Damascus], which I am remembering fondly, the international situation has aggravated considerably as a result of a hardening of the imperialist policy of confrontation. It has increased the danger of nuclear war with its catastrophic consequences for humankind. The militaristic and hegemonic policy by the most aggressive forces of imperialism, headed by the United States, has adopted qualitatively new features.

Among the attempts by the United States to destroy the military-strategic balance and to implement their hegemonic plans are the deployment of new intermediate nuclear missiles in Western Europe scheduled for this year. Under the pretext of a “protection of own interests”, the most aggressive forces of imperialism are increasing their interference in the internal affairs of other states and instigate conflicts in other regions of the world.

As you know, the leading representatives of the socialist states have pointed out this dangerous development in all clarity during their meeting on 28 June 1983 in Moscow. At the same time, they have submitted new proposals for the securing of peace based on the principles of equality and equal security. Not the least, these proposals are based on our conviction that it is possible to overcome through the union of all peace-loving forces the current dangerous phase in international relations.

In the Middle East, U.S. imperialism and its strategic ally Israel are increasing their efforts to include the region in imperialism’s course of confrontation. Especially dangerous for the Arab peoples are the attempts by the United States to solidify and perpetuate the military presence of the United States and NATO in the region by way of separate agreements under the cover of “multi-national forces”.

These actions are aimed at preventing the Arab peoples, in particular the Syrian, Lebanese, and Palestinian people, from realizing their sovereign national rights. A fundamental element of the imperialist Middle East concept is a resolution of the Palestine problem on American-Israeli terms by completely ignoring the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people. In order to achieve its objectives, imperialism is attempting here for a long time already to instigate differences of opinions and conflicts between the Arab states and peoples. The dangerousness of such imperialist machinations is clearly evident.

For a long time already, the German Democratic Republic is well aware of the constructive policy of the Syrian Arab Republic to resist the imperialist hegemonic plans in the Middle East - a well as of your personal accomplishments, dear Comrade Hafez al-Asaad, in forming a joint Arab front.

As it became evident in the recent talks I had during my recent visit to your country, we are in agreement that today it is more important than ever to strengthen the unity of the front of the anti-imperialist and patriotic Arab forces in light of the aggressive intentions of the United States and Israel.

In the current situation, the anti-imperialist alliance between the Syrian Arab Republic, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the patriotic forces forces of Lebanon is gaining eminent importance. Even more then, reports about conflicts within the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organization], and about tensions in relations between the leaderships of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Palestine Liberation Organization, are causing concerns with the Socialist Unity Party of Germany. How dangerous such a fraternal conflict actually is, is becoming evident through the fact that imperialist and other reactionary forces are already beginning to reap benefits for the implementation of their plans.

The historically grown alliance between the Syrian Arab Republic and the Palestine Liberation Organization is based on the fundamental concordance between the interests of the Syrian and Palestinian people. It has proven to be an effective barrier against the hegemonic plans of imperialism during numerous fateful confrontations.

Therefore it is objectively in the interest of the just national struggle of the Syrian Arab Republic to have in the Palestine Liberation Organization, the only legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, a united and strong ally. Due to the close fraternal relations between the leaderships of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Socialist Unity Party of Germany is convinced that the SAR [Syrian Arab Republic] is able to exert its influence towards a swift and democratic resolution of the disputed issues within the PLO and the Fatah [translator’s note: the largest faction within the PLO]. At the same time I want to express my hope, dear Comrade Hafez al-Assad, that you will succeed thanks to your great political experience, and your high international authority as a leader of the anti-imperialist struggle of the Arab peoples, to continue along the traditional fraternal lines the relations with the PLO Executive Committee elected at the 16th Conference of the Palestinian National Council [held from 14 to 22 February 1983 in Algiers] and with its Chairman Yasser Arafat.

Dear Comrade Hafez al-Assad!

Please be assured that the GDR is standing firmly on your side in the hard struggle of the Syrian people and the other Arab peoples - like in the past, so as well in present times and in the future. Especially in light of the new threats of war against the SAR by the aggressor Israel, and because of the maneuvers of the United States to accomplish further separate agreements [with individual Arab states], the GDR is ready to increase together with you its efforts to unmask and thwart the imperialist plans.

Together with the USSR, the GDR is supporting a comprehensive and just solution of the Middle East conflict based on the U.N. resolutions regarding the withdrawal by Israel from all territories occupied since 1967. We are considering in this context the constructive Soviet proposals from September 1982, as well as the charter agreed by the 12. Summit Conference of the Arab League in Fez [Morocco, on 25 September 1982], as a real foundation for convening an international conference on the Middle East.

I also want to use at the same this opportunity, dear Comrade Hafez al-Assad, to wish you and the entire Syrian people further successes in your just struggle.

Please accept my best wishes for your health and working productivity.

With Socialist Greetings

[handwritten signature]

E. Honecker

Berlin, 1 August 1983