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.)
December 20, 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
Colonel 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 SED received at its meeting today the report from Comrade Werner Lamberz, who had visited your country as my special envoy in order to have political consultations with you, dear Comrade Gaddafi, and other members of your leadership.
We are considering ourselves very happy that these meetings have demonstrated an agreement regarding our positions to such a high degree. In particular, we are thanking you, dear Comrade Gaddafi, for the trusting explanation of your position regarding the burning problems of the struggle against imperialism in the Arab countries and in Africa. I am highly appreciating the generous display of brotherly solidarity by the Libyan revolution with the people of the GDR.
The Politburo has wholeheartedly approved the results of the visit by my special envoy. It has also passed a list of concrete measures in order to successfully implement the new and higher level of our cooperation in the political, economic, and military field as well as in the areas of culture and science.
We are expecting the high-ranking military delegation you have announced and we are preparing for the first meeting of the Joint Government Committee of our two countries. It is supposed to take place in mid-January 1978 in Berlin chaired by members of both leaderships.
Furthermore, the Politburo has decided to temporarily delegate an envoy of the Government of the GDR to Tripoli for the implementation of the far-reaching agreements.
Please again accept, dear Comrade Muammar al-Gaddafi, our sincere thanks and the sentiments of our deep friendship and solidarity.
With socialist greeting
[handwritten signature] E. Honecker
Erich Honecker
Berlin, 20 December 1977
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.
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SAPMO-BA, IV 2/2.033/125. Translated by Bernd Schaefer.
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