Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XVI, Southern Africa

26. Telegram From the Embassy in Zaire to the Department of State¹

Kinshasa, August 20, 1978, 2219Z

9028. For AF DAS Walker or AF/C Country Director Junior from Charge. Subject: Message From Angolan President Neto to President Carter. Ref: State 209876.²

1. [less than 1 line not declassified] late August 20 that during lunch on Presidential riverboat same day Neto asked Mobutu to deliver message to President Carter. Neto’s message was that Angola wishes to establish diplomatic relations with United States. Mobutu agreed to Neto’s request and [less than 1 line not declassified] to deliver foregoing to Embassy for transmittal.

2. When queried about Mobutu’s reaction to Neto’s proposal to establish diplomatic relations with US, [less than 1 line not declassified] said that Mobutu had made no comment.

3. When delivering above information to [less than 1 line not declassified] said Neto told Mobutu that although Ambassador Andy Young understood Angola and its problems, by comparison, President Carter and Presidential advisor Brzezinski seemed unsympathetic to Angola.³ In spite of this, Neto reportedly said, he wants to move toward full diplomatic relations.

4. Neto also reportedly asked Mobutu to tell French President Giscard d’Estaing that GOA knows France is assisting UNITA and requests that such assistance be terminated.

5. I have just received message from GOZ Fon Minister Umba saying that Angolan Fon Minister Paulo Jorge will receive me at 0700 GMT August 21 when I intend to deliver contents of reftel on Namibia. Immediately after that meeting, Neto, Jorge, and retinue of about 80 leave for airport to return to Luanda. Mobutu will leave Kinshasa immediately thereafter for Gbadolite and then will go to Bangui for meetings with Emperor and Giscard.

Davis

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 4, Angola: 1/77–12/78. Secret; Sensitive; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Printed from a copy that was received in the White House Situation Room.
2. In telegram 209876 to Kinshasa, August 18, the Department transmitted points to be made to the Angolans addressing rising violence at the Angola/Namibia border. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D780337–0395)
3. In telegram 9067 from Kinshasa, August 21, the Embassy reported on Neto’s annoyance with the administration’s criticism of the Cuban presence in Angola: “Neto reportedly said Angola would not be able to take any steps toward reducing Cuban presence while under pressure from American Government. However, Neto added that he would be willing to receive a special US mission to Luanda to discuss and, as appropriate, ‘negotiate’ question of such a reduction.” Neto indicated that any negotiations “would have to start from promise that with any reduction of Cubans, USG would guarantee Angolan security and territorial integrity.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 4, Angola: 1/77–12/78)