THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 20 JANUARY 1977

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06466955
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 31, 2024
• Document Release Date: December 30, 2024
• Publication Date: January 20, 1977

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THE PRESIDENT'S
DAILY BRIEF
6
Y
January 20, 197$
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EGYPT: Sadat's prob-
lems
The past two days of demonstra-
tions have no doubt seriously
eroded President Sadat's popular-
ity. He may consider deflecting
criticism from himself by setting
Prime Minister Salim up as a scape-
goat.
The regime's chief support, the
military establishment, has thus
far apparently remained loyal.
If the demonstrations continue
the danger will rise that the mil-
itary leadership might move against
Sadat in an effort to restore or-
der.
--continued
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CYPRUS: Makarios-
Denktash meeting
President Makarios has agreed to
meet Turkish Cypriot leader Denk-
tash under UN auspices to discuss
the present impasse in negotia-
tions and to draw up guidelines
for new discussions.
Talks between representatives of
the two communities have been
stalled since last February. Ma-
karios stipulated that the coming
meeting not be held until late thi,s
month so that he could assess the
outcome of the visit to Washington
of former CyprIot negotiator
CZerides.
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NOTES
A. Soviet President Podgorny's planned visit to India within
the next couple of months probably is intended to check as
to whether Prime Minister Gandhi's criticism of the leftists
in her party and the pro-Marxist Communist party of India is
affecting Soviet-Indian relations.
B. Yugoslav President Tito is cutting short his Middle East
tour because of the urgent need to fill the vacancy created
by Premier Bijedic's death as well as the rioting taking
place in Cairo.
C. Qatari Oil Minister Al Thani, the current president of OPEC,
is traveling through the Persian Gulf to line up support for
a compromise with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
on oil prices. Such a compromise would require the concur-
rence of both Saudi Arabia and Iran.
D. The situation remains tense in Benin. All US citizens in
the capital are accounted for, but security forces are ar-
resting many Caucasians in their search for mercenaries left
behind when the coup force fled.
Attached is an annex discussing European concerns over Cyprus.
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EUROPEAN INTERESTS IN CYPRUS
European officials intend to raise the question of
Cyprus with Vice President Mondale during his visit
next week. They have already tagged Cyprus as the
major external concern of the European Community in
early 1977, and are now trying to develop a new plan,
in cooperation with the US, aimed at resolving the
conflict.
The Nine may approve a plan for breaking the impasse in negotia-
tions at the foreign ministers' political cooperation meeting
scheduled for January 31. Some officials hope that, with the
understanding of the US, this plan could be presented to UN Sec-
retary General Waldheim before Congress takes up legislation
on US-Greek and US-Turkish agreements. Additional scenarios are
being proposed by UN and European officials.
European interest in a Cyprus settlement springs in part from
concern that Greek-Turkish tension undermines NATO's position
in the eastern Mediterranean. The EC also has a special involve-
ment with Greece and Turkey as associates and prospective mem-
bers. Negotiations on Greek membership are under way, but Turk-
ish membership is not likely for some time. This makes it dif-
ficult for the EC to maintain a balanced policy toward the two
countries.
Turkey fears that Greece, through membership, will gain the ad-
vantage of participation in EC political talks on Cyprus and
other Mediterranean issues. This has led Turkish officials to
propose that Ankara be included in such talks even before Tur-
key becomes a full member of the EC.
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Among European countries, France has taken a position fundamen-
tally favoring Greek interests, perhaps because of French empha-
sis on the role Europeans can play to support democratic govern-
ment in Greece. French concern for Greece is also part of a
policy of trying to balance German influence within the EC.
Recently French officials have been reported to oppose any Soviet
involvement in a Cyprus settlement. They therefore question the
wisdom of a predominant US role in Cyprus talks lest it elicit a
Soviet reaction.
In contrast, Germany has been solicitous of Turkey, largely be-
cause of Turkey's important but uncertain future role in NATO de-
fense. While Paris received Turkish Foreign Minister Caglayangil
noncommittally in early November, his visit to Bonn in mid-Decem-
ber brought a promise from German Foreign Minister Genscher to
do everything possible to meet Turkey's requests.
The Europeans are pondering a response to a Council of Europe
report harshly critical of Turkey for alleged violations of the
Convention of Human Rights in Cyprus following the 1974 inva-
sion of the island. The report is on the agenda of a meeting
next month of the Council's Committee of Ministers. Turkey has
threatened to withdraw from the Council of Europe if the report
is accepted.
Both Germany and France hesitate to antagonize Turkey over this
issue but believe that they cannot compromise without undermining
the credibility of their defense of human rights in Soviet bloc
countries and Berlin, particularly in the context of the CSCE
review in Belgrade this summer.
Ireland, which is chairing the February session of the Council
of Europe has asked for US guidance. British officials may try
to avoid a clash with Turkey in that forum by stressing legal
and procedural questions that may dispose of the report.
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