Message of L.I. Brezhnev to Syrian President Hafez Assad

[German Translation of Russian Original]

[Handwritten]: EH [Erich Honecker]

25 June 1982

22:30 Hours

Message by L. I. BREZHNEV to the President of Syria Hafez Assad

Dear Comrade Hafez Assad!

I have noted your message with great attention.

You are expressing a couple of important considerations in the context of the current situation in the Middle East. I am noting with satisfaction that our fundamental assessments of the actions by the Israeli aggressor and its accomplice, the United States of America, are in accordance.

Together with other leading Soviet comrades I am noting with satisfaction that you value highly the role of the Soviet Union in this new hour of trial for the Arab world. You know that we are on your side with words and deeds, on the side of the Syrians, the Palestinians, and the patriotic forces of Lebanon, on the side of all those resisting the Israeli aggression.

We are actively using all levers, including respective pressure on the U.S. Administration, to achieve the cessation of Israel’s aggressions and the withdrawal of its forces from Lebanon.

First on the military side of the situation in Lebanon and around Lebanon. The Syrian forces and units have demonstrated a grown steadfastness in fighting and high skill in the use of warfare technology and arms. They have inflicted painful losses on the aggressor.As you are aware, the Soviet Union is undertaking energetic measures to deliver the needed military support to Syria, the PLO, and the Lebanese national-patriotic forces. By way of military transportation aircraft and the sea route, the primarily needed equipment, technology, and ammunition is delivered to Syria non-stop. To the current moment, the means have been supplied to make it overall possible to restore the combat readiness of the PLO forces and to replenish the reserves of arms and ammunition lacking most.

In your message you are touching on a couple of issues related to the replenishment of losses of the Syrian Army and the further strengthening of fighting capacities of the Syrian Air Defence and Air Forces, as well as pertaining to the perfection of the control and communication system. The Soviet side is reviewing these requests attentively and favorably. Our concrete proposals will be submitted to you in the very next time.

We will continue to do everything possible to not only raise the defense potential of Syria to its previous level, but also to increase it.

As far as the option of training Syrian military cadres in the mastering of combat technology and arms is concerned: this can be realized both with the support of our military advisers and specialists in Syria, as well as in the Soviet Union if needed.

You, Comrade President, being a military leader, will certainly agree with me that technology alone does not solve the issues. A lot is depending on how it is deployed. Here there remain more than a few important questions regarding the increase of combat readiness of the Syrian Army that have to be resolved on site. According instructions have been forwarded to our military advisers and specialists.

Now to another key problem of the fight against the aggression. Unfortunately the bitter truth is that a large part of responsibility for what currently is happening in Lebanon, is resting with those Arab states which are staying passive and do not provide the necessary support for the defense against the Israeli aggression. However active the friends of the Arabs are, how many arms the might deliver to them - it falls primarily on the Arab countries themselves, on their unity and determination, whether the aggressor and its patrons will be able to accomplish their plans.

It cannot be comprehended nor justified that the Arab world has not found the energy within itself to act against the aggression by Israel and its patrons; and not even then, when Israel is attempting to liquidate the Palestinians in Lebanon, since it is occupying a significant part of the territory of just another Arab state and is conducting strikes against Syria. Because the leaders of the Arab states have not met even once to decide on certain measures against Israel and the United States. If there only would exist the political will, the Arabs would be able to do many and significant things.

It is obvious that out is not that easy to achieve unity and coordinate the actions of the Arabs. However, there is apparently also something else: The Arabs themselves must be in a position to rise against the Zionist and imperialist aggression. And this means not to waste its energies in feuds among themselves, and not to leave one after the other alone facing the strikes of the aggressor. The logic of the fight is leaving the Arabs with no other alternative but to come together and unite. And the decisive word does belong here to those, who have to carry the main burden of the fight against the aggressor.

As can be seen from your message, you attest primary importance to the coordination of actions between the leaderships of Syria, the PLO, and the Lebanese national-patriotic forces. In the current complicated and rapidly changing situation in and around Lebanon this is especially correct in our opinion.

Politically, Israel and the United States have maneuvered themselves in an unenviable situation. They have not only isolated themselves, they are already condemned in the world on a wide scale. Taking this factor into consideration, the resistance against the enemy must go along with the search for such ways to make difficult the maneuvers of their adversaries and to win allies for their just cause; even if those are just temporary and not stable allies.

From that perspective it is important not to lower the persistence in the struggle for the implementation of recent resolutions of the [U.N.] Security Council adopted in the context of the Israeli aggression in Lebanon. These resolutions are for you, as well as for us, a great political capital. They are a good foundation to unfold an active political struggle for the cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israel’s forces from Lebanon.

Of course, war is war, and during its course you have the most varied turns. Still, I am saying from own experience that it is especially important in difficult minutes not to lose the faith in final success; and for that exploiting every pause and each practical opportunity to get in order and improve your own forces.

I want to assure you, dear Comrade Assad, that the Soviet Union is standing on the side of the Syrian and Palestinian people and the Lebanese patriots, who are repelling Israel’s aggression and thus are defending their legal rights.

I am wishing you, Comrade President, good health and successes in the fight against the Israeli aggression and for the just cause of the Arab peoples.

Sincerely,

L. Brezhnev

In Moscow the conviction is getting expressed that on their side the German friends will be doing everything possible to unmask the Israeli aggression and to increase the support for the Syrians and the Palestinians.