LITHUANIA DECLARES SOLIDARITY WITH UKRAINE; TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 001450 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NB AND EUR/UMB E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2014 TAGS: PREL PGOV UP LH SUBJECT: LITHUANIA DECLARES SOLIDARITY WITH UKRAINE; TO PROPOSE NATO ROLE REF: A. VILNIUS 1449 ¶B. VILNIUS 1437 Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Nancy Cohen for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) The Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) expressed its solidarity with the people of Ukraine and its support for their democratic objectives. In a vote of 123 to 1, with 3 abstentions, the 141-seat Seimas resolved to support the decision of Ukraine's Supreme Rada to evaluate the results of the second round of presidential elections according to generally recognized democratic standards. The Seimas resolution also applauded the efforts of the Supreme Rada and other Ukrainian institutions to stabilize the situation in Ukraine and commended the diplomatic mediation of Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, and Polish and EU officials. The Seimas denounced "illegal intervention of third" parties to interfere in Ukraine's domestic political affairs. ¶2. (C) Mindaugas Kacerauskas, head of the MFA's Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus Division, told us that the Lithuanian Government is very concerned about protecting democratic integrity of the election process and the territorial integrity of Ukraine, "to avoid another Transnistria." He said that Lithuanian will take the lead at a meeting in Brussels during the week of November 29 and will debrief the NATO Ambassadors on the President Adamkus's "fruitful and very successful" meeting in Kiev with Ukraine's President Kuchma, Polish President Kwasniewski, and the EU's Javier Solano. In Brussels, Lithuania will introduce a four-point proposal for NATO action, which Kacerauskas described as follows: a) the North Atlantic Council (NAC) take up Ukraine's elections at the December 9 meeting; b) the NAC communique incorporate a statement on Ukraine's elections and a proposal to ensure Ukraine's territorial integrity; c) the NATO-Ukraine meeting planned for the margins of the December 9 NAC be at the ministerial level; c) the situation in Ukraine be on the agenda for the NATO-Russia Council. ¶3. (C) Comment: Lithuania continues to advance its position as a leader in regional affairs. President Adamkus's successful diplomatic intervention in Ukraine's post-election crisis has played well in Lithuania, and the media is making much of Lithuania's restored image in the international arena following a year of the country's own democratic challenges and a presidential impeachment. More than just show, however, the actions of the President and Seimas reflect a government-wide commitment that Lithuania will be an active member in NATO and in a Europe "whole and free." MULL