Soviet Union-Eastern Europe
October 6, 19
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SOVIETASTERN EUROPE
munity by thtastern Europe Division, Office of Currentwith occasional contributions from other offices within the Directorate of intelligence. Comments and queries are welcome. They should be directed to the authors of the individual articles.
CONTENTS
October6
USSR-China: General Gankovoky's
Return to
Jamaica: Soviets To Open an
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USSR-China: General Gankovsky's Return to Peking
fficials in Peking have told that tho "unexpected" return of
General Gankovsky, deputy chief of the Soviet team at the Sino-Soviet border talks, to Pekings aimed at probing for any signs ofin China's attitude toward the USSR. Gankovsky is normally posted in Peking, but accordingugoslav press story, he had not been there for six months.
Moscow's chief negotiator at the talks. Deputy Poreign Minister Xlichev, has not been in Peking since The Soviets could have sent Ilichev back to do theut they and the Chinese seem to have beentruggle of wills over his return, the Soviets looking for something that could be construed as an invitation, the Chinese adamantly refusing to accommodate. With Gankovsky, Moscow will not lose face. The Sino-Sovlct.border talks have made little progress since they begannd almost none over the last two years. If the Chinese are even moderately civil to Gankovsky, the Soviets are likely to be encouraged. As ofowever, Gankovsky had apparently had no meetings with tho Chinese. m*<IL
October 6, 6
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Jamaica: Soviets Tu Open an Embassy?
The Manley government is reportedlyequest by the Soviet Onion toesident mission in Kingston headedenior ambassador. The Foreign Ministry is said to have recommended that the government respond favorably to theroviso limiting the number of Soviet diplomatic personnel. The Foreign Ministry may, however, be exaggerating the extent of Sovietin Jamaica. It claims that to underscore the importance it now gives to Jamaica, Moscow is planning to send as resident ambassador one of its most senior Latin American specialists, Yurilycurrently ambassador to Mexico. Volskiyhis post in Mexico last June after earlier service as ambassador in Buenos Aires. We believe that it is highly unlikely the Soviets wouldVolskiy from the Mexico Cityof its most important in LatinKingston. More plausibly, Volskiy's portfolio would beto enable him to serve as non-residentto Jamaica.
Diplomatic relations between the USSR andwere established inut Manley decided last summer to postpone the openingoviet embassy because of an anticipated negative domestic political reaction. It seems highlythat Manley would reverse that decision now with electionsew months away. In fact, Curtis Griffiths, the head, of the Special Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force,ecision be deferred until after the elections. Despite his close Cubanriffiths is particularly sensitive to the anti-communisc sentiment in the countrysideManley'spublic reaction to the Cuban presence last spring.
If Manley is returned toseemscan bo expected to accede quickly to the Soviet request. His government badly needs foreign
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economic assistance and would have no qualms about seeking such aid from the Soviet Union. Hungary, for example, agreed last spring to build an alumina refinery in Jamaica pending the outcome ofstudies, and the Jamaicans reportedly hope to sell their bauxite products to other Eastcountries and the USSR.
For its part, Moscow has recently demonstrated increasing interest in Jamaica. Soviet media have highlighted charges that the US is trying tothe Manley government. In addition, for the firstroup of young Jamaicaneading leftist who has ties with Manley*sbeen granted scholarships to study at Patrice Lumumba University in Hoscow. While the Soviets are unlikely to bail out the Jamaican economyarge loan, they are probably disposed at le*st to bin/ more Jamaican bauxite.and alumina. (SECJET
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