LITHUANIA: RUSSIAN TEAM COMPLETES UNEVENTFUL VDOC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VILNIUS 001350

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NB, EUR/RPM, AND INR/B

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2014
TAGS: PARM MOPS LH
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA: RUSSIAN TEAM COMPLETES UNEVENTFUL VDOC
INSPECTION

REF: STATE 226131

Classified By: POL/ECON OFFICER TREVOR BOYD
FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary. A team from the Russian Federation conducted
a Vienna Document inspection of Lithuanian military
facilities on October 27-28. The inspection covered army and
air force facilities in Kaunas, Panevezys, and Siauliai,
including NATO's Baltic air policing assets at the Zokniai
airfield. The GOL, assisted by a J-6 team from the United
Kingdom, escorted the Russian team through an uneventful
inspection. Reports from the field indicate that the Russian
team was more than satisfied with all aspects of the
inspection. Lithuania's willingness to be open, flexible,
and transparent, exceeding the requirements of the Vienna
Document, demonstrated that the GOR could and should utilize
existing inspection mechanisms to gain confidence in NATO's
presence in the Baltics. End Summary.


2. (SBU) The Government of Lithuania, in response to a Vienna
document request (reftel A),hosted a team of Russian
Federation (RF) inspectors on October 27-28. Lithuanian
military officials, and two officers from the United
Kingdom's J-6 Division, accompanied the team of four Russian
military officers as they inspected, by helicopter and car,
an area that included military installations near the cities
of Kaunas, Panevezys and Siauliai. The Russian team
conducted a complete inspection of NATO's Baltic air policing
assets, including British F-3 Tornado aircraft, at the
Zokniai airfield.

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Day One
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3. (SBU) The RF team, following the itinerary proposed by the
GOL, entered the inspection area at Rukla, approximately 30
kilometers north of Kaunas, on the morning of October 27.
Military installations around Rukla include the Grand Duke
Algirdas motorized infantry battalion, maneuvering elements
of the Iron Wolf Brigade, and a conscript training center.
The GOL provided three briefings to the RF team in Rukla
before traveling to Kaunas, where the team boarded a
helicopter and completed an aerial survey of the inspection
area. (Note: Though the GOL denied the RF request to use GPS
equipment, the team was allowed to monitor the helicopter's
GPS readings during the aerial inspection.) After the aerial
inspection, the team had a briefing at Lithuanian Air Force
Headquarters in Kaunas.

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Day Two
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4. (SBU) The RF team traveled by car on the morning of
October 28 to Siauliai and received a briefing at Lithuania's
First Air Force Base. The team toured the Zokniai airfield,
where they met with the leadership of the NATO Detachment,
and viewed the British F-3 Tornadoes and storage sites. The
team visited Panevezys and received a briefing before
inspecting the King Mindaugas motorized infantry battalion.

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Departure
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5. (U) The RF team will depart Vilnius on October 29 around
17:00 local time. Social events are scheduled during the day.

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Comments from the Field
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6. (C) We received several updates from the MFA during the RF
team's visit. All reports from the field were extremely
positive, noting that the inspection progressed perfectly as
planned, with no special surprises or requests from the RF
team. Interlocutors said the RF team was "relaxed" and
"happy" with the inspection.

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Comment
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7. (C) Lithuania went above and beyond the letter of the
Vienna Document and repeatedly illustrated its willingness to
be open, flexible, and transparent during the inspection by
allowing, for example, the RF team to fully inspect the NATO
assets and storage sites at the Zokniai airfield. The GOL
again demonstrated its commitment to addressing Russian
concerns about NATO's air policing mission in the Baltics,
and validated NATO's position that the Russian Federation
should utilize existing inspection mechanisms to build
confidence.
MULL