LITHUANIA SUPPORTS EU-IMIE COOPERATION ON IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 001577 SIPDIS STATE FOR DRL AND EUR/NB E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2014 TAGS: PROP PREL PHUM IZ LH SUBJECT: LITHUANIA SUPPORTS EU-IMIE COOPERATION ON IRAQ ELECTIONS REF: A. SECSTATE 274965 ¶B. VILNIUS 1520 Classified By: POL/ECON OFFICER TREVOR BOYD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) (C) Charge delivered reftel points on supporting the International Mission for Iraq Elections (IMIE) to Ginutis Voveris, Director of MFA's Americas, Africa, Asia and Pacific Departments on December 30. Noting the importance of the elections for the democratization and reconstruction of Iraq, Voveris said that the GOL will participate "one way or another" in an international observation mission, and reiterated that the GOL is strongly leaning toward contributing to an EU mission (reftel B). Commending the GOL's participation in the recent IMIE conference in Ottawa, Charge highlighted widespread international support for the IMIE. Pointing out that representatives of other EU members and the EU Commission attended the Ottawa meeting, he added that participation in the IMIE and an EU-organized effort were not necessarily mutually exclusive. Voveris concurred, noting that the GOL would support collaboration between IMIE and the EU. We will continue to interact with the GOL in the coming weeks to learn more about the nature of Lithuania's participation and its recommendations on how best to bring the EU and IMIE efforts together. KELLY