Letter from Leonid Brezhnev to Alexander Dubček Inviting a ČSSR Delegation to the USSR, March 16, 1968

Our Source: Navratil, Jaromir. "The Prague Spring 1968".  Hungary: Central European Press, 1998, pp. 63
Original Source: ÚSD, AÚV KSČ , F. 07/15, Zahr. Kor. C. 787.
Translated by: Mark Kramer, Joy Moss and Ruth Tosek
Comment: Brezhnev wrote 6 confidential letters to Dubček during the events in 1968. This is the first one.

16 March 1968

To the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, Cde. A. Dubček

Dear Cde. Dubček!

During your visit to Moscow at the end of January of this year, we spoke about the necessity of further developing contacts between the party and state leaders of our countries. During those talks the opinion was expressed that a ČSSR state and party delegation should visit the Soviet Union this year.

On the basis of this preliminary agreement, the CPSU CC, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, and the Soviet government invite a ČSSR state and party delegation to visit the Soviet Union for talks at the highest level at a time that is most convenient for the Czechoslovak comrades.

While your delegation is in the USSR, we can discuss with you, in a fraternal way, questions of interest to both sides. We are convinced that the visit of a ČSSR delegation to the USSR will play an important role in strengthening the fraternal friendship and all-round cooperation between our parties and peoples.

With communist regards

L. Brezhnev

General Secretary, CPSU CC