Identifier	Created	Classification	Origin
04VILNIUS1194	2004-09-30 12:58:00	CONFIDENTIAL	Embassy Vilnius

Cable title:

LITHUANIA SUPPORTS TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP

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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

					  C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 001194 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/NB, EUR/ERA, EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2014 
TAGS: PREL ECIN EU TU LH
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA SUPPORTS TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP 
 
REF: SECSTATE 204758 
 
Classified By: POL/ECON OFFICER CHRISTIAN YARNELL 
FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

1. (C) We delivered reftel points regarding support for
Turkey's EU membership and provided non-paper on Turkey's
progress on Copenhagen criteria to the MFA's Jurgita
Apanaviciute on September 27. Apanaviciute, who is
responsible for enlargement issues within the MFA's European
Union Department, said that Lithuania supports Turkey's
aspirations to join the EU but remains firm that Turkey must
meet the same standards and fulfill the same requirements
(notably the Copenhagen political criteria) as the other
states that recently joined the European Union. Recalling
the September 11 visit to Lithuania of Turkish FM Abdullah
Gul, she noted FM Antanas Valionis' public statement of
Lithuania's support under those terms.

2. (C) Apanaviciute said she personally expected that the
October 6 Commission report would not make a definitive
recommendation on whether or when to begin accession
negotiations with Turkey, in order to leave the Council free
rein to decide the matter in December. Apanaviciute said
that Lithuania would likely vote in December in favor of
beginning accession negotiations, barring any negative
development on Turkey's part.

3. (C) Charge raised the issue separately with three
high-level Foreign Ministry officials: Ambassador Rokas
Bernotas, MFA Multilateral Relations chief; Ambassador
Arnoldas Milukas, MFA "Special Missions" Chief; and EU
Department Director Zygimantas Pavilionis. All three
reaffirmed the GOL's strong support for Turkish accession,
and expressed cautious optimism that Turkey would be invited
to begin the process soon. Pavilionis, who knows EU internal
politics well after several years in Brussels, added that
France was seeking to impede the process and that others like
Denmark and the Netherlands also had serious reservations
about Turkey.

4. (C) Charge also compared notes with Turkish Ambassador to
Lithuania Kadriye Sanivar Kizildeli. She expressed
confidence that the GOL would remain in the pro-accession
camp. She said that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul's swing
through Lithuania earlier this month met Turkish objectives,
since both President Adamkus and Foreign Minister Valionis
expressed support for Turkey's eventual accession. She
expressed apprehension about the refusal of the current
frontrunner in the upcoming parliamentary election, Viktor
Uspaskich, to meet with her to discuss the issue. At the
same time, however, she doubted that the next government
would significantly change current policy, and noted her
confidence in the foreign policy professionals at MFA who
manage the issue.
Mull