Telegram to the Romanian Embassy in Teheran, No. 05/003865

Telegram to the Romanian Embassy in Teheran, No. 05/003865, 7 August 1967, Top Secret

Comrade Ambassador:

On 3 August 1967, the Romanian press [Scînteia] published a communiqué about how the General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party, Nicolae Ceausescu, received Reza Radmanesh, the president of the Central Committee Politburo of the Tudeh Party in Iran.

On the same day, the Iranian ambassador to Bucharest, S.H.V. Sanandaji, paid a visit, at his request, to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Petru Burlacu. On this occasion, [Sanandaji] requested Radmanesh’s arrest and extradition to Iran, given the crimes he committed against the Iranian people and government.

In this respect, the Iranian ambassador tried to hand in a note verbale.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Petru Burlacu, told the Iranian ambassador that according to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Romania, the Romanian Communist Party is the only authority in our country, and the basis for its relations with other parties and other countries is the respect for the principles of mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of [other countries]. According to these principles, the Romanian Communist Party is the sole authority that can decide whom to receive, whom to meet with, or whom to talk to.

While pointing out the foreign relations of the Romanian Communist Party, comrade Petru Burlacu showed that Reza Radmanesh’s reception is part and parcel of these foreign relations, and it must be seen as such.

One of the fundamental principles of our foreign policy, a principle which is the basis of Iran’s foreign policy, and which was underlined by His Imperial Majesty, the Shah on the occasion of the visit to Iran of the Romanian President of the State Council, Chivu Stoica, is that of having relations with all countries, irrespective of their internal political and social regime.

This is the background against which friendly relations between Iran and Romania developed.

On the basis of their contacts, His Imperial Majesty, the Shah, and the Prime Minister, Mr. A. Hoveyda, are [fully] aware of the position of our party and state leadership regarding Iran, they know [Romania’s] desire to continue to develop relations with Iran, as well as the respect that our leadership has for the Iranian leadership. The Romanian leadership gives a high consideration to relations between Iran and Romania, and they appreciate the Shah’s and the Iranian government’s policy.

For these reasons, the fact that Nicolae Ceausescu, the General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party, received Reza Radmanesh cannot and must not have any bearing upon the development of relations between our countries.

This is why, comrade Petru Burlacu pointed out, the request to arrest and extradite Reza Radmanesh cannot be accepted, and the note verbale cannot be received. This is why the fact that Nicolae Ceausescu received Reza Radmanesh cannot be interpreted as an inimical act towards Iran.

In case the Iranian [ambassador] raises this issue [with you], please use Comrade Burlacu’s answer to Ambassador Sanandaji as an example.

Petru Burlacu