Item COLD WAR 28/75 - Transcript of interview with Lieutenant General Petr Chaplygin, 1997

Typescript transcript of interview with Soviet Lt Gen Petr Vassilevich Chaplygin, relating to Chaplygin's posting to Ethiopia, Apr 1977; the conflict in Ethiopia between the Eritrean National Liberation Front and the Western Somali Liberation Front, 1977; Chaplygin's confusion as to the reasons behind the conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia, two African nations assisted by the USSR, 1977; Soviet military assistance to Ethiopia, 1977-1978; the poor standards in personnel and equipment in the Ethiopian Army, despite training by US advisers, [1977]; Cuban military aid to Ethiopia, 1977-1978; co-operation between Soviet and Cuban forces in Ethiopia, 1977-1978; the defence of Hãrer, Ethiopia, [1978]; Soviet support for Ethiopian President Haile Mariam Mengistu, 1977-1978; the successful conclusion of Ethiopian operations against Somalia in the Ogaden desert, 1978; the Soviet decision to prevent a Cuban supported Ethiopian invasion of Somalia, 1978; Ethiopian operations against the Eritrean National Liberation Front in Eritrea, 1978; Chaplygin's relationship with President Mengistu, 1977-1978; the Soviet decision to support Ethiopia against Somalia, but not to deploy units of the Red Army, 1977; the importance of Cuban forces to the success of Ethiopian operations in Eritrea and against Somalia, 1977-1978; the strategic reasons for Soviet involvement in the Horn of Africa, 1977-1978. 37pp