Letter, L.I. Brezhnev to Gamal Abdel Nasser

Dear President and dear friend!

Taking advantage of a favorable opportunity, a trip to your country by Cde. A. N. Shelepin, a member of the CPSU CC Politburo and Chairman of the VTsSPS [Central Council of Trade Unions], to pass to you in the name of my comrades and on my own behalf warm greetings and best wishes for good health and success in your noble activity directed at strengthening the national independence of the United Arab Republic and consolidating the socioeconomic gains of the industrious Egyptian people. 

We regard with great understanding the steps which your government and you personally are undertaking with the purpose of rallying together all the healthy, progressive, and patriotic forces of the nation, increasing the combat capability of the armed forces of the republic, stepping up the fight against domestic and foreign enemies, and organizing a rebuff to the unceasing intrigues of imperialism in the region of the Middle East. We note your great efforts to mobilize the working masses to solve the tasks with which the country is faced, which is demonstrated by such measures as the reorganization of the Arab Socialist Union and the recent elections to the UAR National Assembly.

I and my comrades take advantage of this occasion to wish the brave people of your country further successes in the development of an independent national economy and a constant increase of the welfare of the working masses.

We value the current development of relations between the Soviet Union and the United Arab Republic highly. The ties of fraternal friendship which connect both our countries are based on a firm anti-imperialist basis. No enemies can break these ties, which are reinforced by the principle of international solidarity of our peoples. For our part we are fully determined to promote a comprehensive expansion and deepening of the relations of friendship and equal, fraternal cooperation which has developed between our peoples. We will do everything possible for Soviet-Arab friendship to remain the same, firm and eternal as the Aswan Dam, which symbolizes this friendship.

As we understand the main task at the current stage is to eliminate the consequences of the Israeli aggression and achieve a political settlement of the Middle East crisis on a durable and just basis, taking into consideration the legitimate interests of the Arab peoples.

Mister President, your deep understanding of the current tense situation in the Middle East and your flexible policy on the question of ways to eliminate the consequences of the Israeli aggression cannot fail to evoke satisfaction. We highly value your positive attitude toward the Soviet plan for a Middle East settlement which received its acknowledgement in particular during the recent visit to Cairo by USSR Minister of Foreign Affairs Cde. A. A. Gromyko.

A solution to the Middle East crisis, taking into account the entire complexity of the problem associated with it, demands exceptional flexibility, restraint, and a sense of realism. We are not inclined to underestimate the difficulties which stand in the way to a political settlement in the Middle East. However, in our deep conviction, in current conditions this is the only realistic way to eliminate the consequences of the Israeli aggression. Of course, when this is done it does not mean any lessening of the work to strengthen the defensive ability of the Arab countries, the UAR first of all. The point of view that political means of fighting for the achievement of a Middle East settlement should be undergirded by measures to strengthen the military and economic potential of the UAR finds complete understanding from our side. Mister President, you can have no doubt in this regard of the readiness of the Soviet Union to continue to further develop the productive, multifaceted cooperation between our countries. It is from this [point of view] that the Soviet leadership proceeds in considering the specific questions of military and economic cooperation between the USSR and the UAR, to which it devotes daily and constant attention.

My comrades and I recall with great warmth your visit to our country last year, Mister President, which was yet one more confirmation of the fraternal, confidential nature of the relations which exist between our countries and peoples. We express the hope that you, Mister President, will be able to come to vacation in our country this summer together with [your] family. You can have no doubt that you will be received as a great friend of the Soviet people.

With deep respect

                                                                                                            L. I. BREZHNEV

27 January 1969

Moscow

to His Excellency

Mister Gamal Abdel Nasser

President of the United Arab Republic

Cairo