AMBASSADOR PROMOTES U.S.-LITHUANIA RELATIONS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VILNIUS 000101 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NB, EUR/ERA, EB/ENG E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/27/2015 TAGS: ECON ENRG OVIP ELAB PGOV LH SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PROMOTES U.S.-LITHUANIA RELATIONS, DISCUSSES OIL REFINERY IN MAZEIKIAI REF: A. 2004 VILNIUS 1522 ¶B. 2004 VILNIUS 1521 Classified By: Pol/Econ Officer Christian Yarnell for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador Mull traveled to the provincial city of Mazeikiai, home to the Mazeikiu Nafta oil refinery, January 19-20 to convey a message of close U.S.-Lithuanian ties. He also focused on efforts to combat corruption, intolerance, HIV/AIDS, and trafficking-in-persons. Mazeikiu Nafta officials briefed on the refinery's recent operating successes and discussed some serious challenges for the future. The dismantling of Russian oil giant Yukos will especially threaten Mazeikiu Nafta operations and, therefore, the economy of Mazeikiai. END SUMMARY. -------------- Background -------------- ¶2. (U) A January 19-20 visit to Mazeikiai was the most recent stop in our ongoing Ambassadorial travel program to Lithuanian regional towns. Mazeikiai is a medium-sized (population 46,000),industrial town located in northwest Lithuania near the border with Latvia. It is best known for the Mazeikiu Nafta (MN) (translation: "Mazeikiai's oil") oil refinery, by far the town's largest employer and one of Lithuania's largest companies. Although MN has performed extremely well since Russian oil giant Yukos took over control of the refinery in 2002, the unemployment rate in Mazeikiai remains one of the highest in the country at 14.4%. European Union membership has led to increased emigration (ref A) and has energized some local businessmen, however, leading to a gradual decrease in unemployment. -------------- The Ambassador's Message -------------- ¶3. (U) Ambassador Mull stressed the following themes with local government, NGO, business, and media leaders: -- CLOSE BILATERAL TIES: Ambassador Mull throughout his trip emphasized the close relationship between the United States and Lithuania. (Note: Some local citizens continue to harbor ill feelings regarding the operation of the Mazeikiu Nafta refinery under American firm Williams Intl). -- FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION: The Ambassador stressed the importance of transparency and ethics for Lithuania's democracy, noting that anti-corruption activities would be a priority for the Embassy during the year. -- TOLERANCE AND MINORITY RIGHTS: The Ambassador praised those who stand up against ethnic hatred and intolerance, and encouraged greater legal protections for vulnerable groups such as the physically impaired. -- HEALTH CONCERNS AND COMBATING TIP: Ambassador Mull encouraged greater dialogue of health concerns, such as HIV/AIDS, and stressed the importance of combating trafficking-in-persons. -------------- It's All About Oil -------------- Securing Profitability -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Mazeikiai Mayor Vilhelmas Dziugelis described how the lifeblood of his town remains dependent on the performance of the MN oil refinery, whose future the Yukos affair now clouds. MN General Director Nelson English, whom the Ambassador has met previously (ref B),introduced the company's management team and gave a detailed run-down of its operations. He noted that 2004 was an unparalleled year for the refinery, with profits over $200 million, up three-fold from the previous year. He credited the refinery's dramatic turnaround to the modernization program that previous managers Williams Intl began. English and his team also attributed MN's success to Yukos's western management practices and access to Russian oil supplies. The continued profitability of the refinery, he said, depended on similar access and business management acumen of whomever controls the plant in the future. ¶5. (C) Topping the list of potential threats to MN's profitability, English noted, are securing oil supplies, the cost of doing business under EU rules, and corruption. Regarding supplies, English said that the refinery could deal with any short-term supply problems by importing crude oil through the Butinge sea terminal, albeit at much lower profit margins. Long-term supply could be a more critical issue, with Russia apparently intent on pumping more crude to its own refinery in Primorsk. The company leadership complained that stringent EU environmental regulations, combined with over zealousness on the part of Lithuanian authorities to enforce even optional EU guidelines, will cost the company millions in the coming years and hurt profits. Combatting Corruption -------------- ¶6. (U) English emphasized his personal commitment to fighting corruption in Lithuania. He said that corruption and theft caused the company significant losses and described his company's "zero tolerance" for such behavior by employees. He praised Ambassador Mull's activity on the anti-corruption front, and the Ambassador pledged to support English's intention to host a conference on business ethics in the coming months. -------------- Societal Health -------------- ¶7. (U) Ambassador Mull met with representatives from the Mazeikiai Health Coalition, an umbrella organization dealing with a variety of local health concerns. The Coalition described their efforts to foster a greater sense of community health and activism on these issues. Youth and NGO leaders noted a continued reluctance within Mazeikiai society to discuss the problems of HIV/AIDS and trafficking-in-persons. The Ambassador stressed the importance of open dialogue in combating these threats. -------------- Youth Flight -------------- ¶8. (U) The Mayor and some business leaders identified as an area of concern the markedly increased emigration resulting from Lithuania's 2004 accession to the EU. The head of the Mazeikiai Entrepreneurs Association noted that young people, forced to leave the city for higher education, do not find economic motivations to return. The head of the local unemployment office described a lack of qualified labor as the biggest threat to Mazeikiai's economy, noting especially the need to develop more small and medium-sized enterprises. Youth leaders described a growing "age gap" in Mazeikiai, as most residents are now either middle-aged or adolescent, with few in between. -------------- Media Coverage -------------- ¶9. (U) There was extensive media coverage throughout the visit, including an exclusive interview to the region's largest daily newspaper. Media reaction to the visit was overwhelming positive, with only a few negative comments surrounding past American involvement at Mazeikiu Nafta. -------------- Comment: The Lifeblood of Mazeikiai -------------- ¶10. (C) While Ambassador Mull was able to address a variety of issues of importance to our Mission, conversation in Mazeikiai often seemed to turn to the city's prize possession, Mazeikiu Nafta. Although the company is coming off a banner year, the future for the oil refinery and therefore this town is more uncertain. Yukos, the magical combination of a Russian company with western management practices, was indeed a perfect match for Mazeikiu Nafta. The Kremlin's war on Yukos will likely have negative consequences for operations at Lithuania's oil refinery. And as goes Mazeikiu Nafta, so goes the town of Mazeikiai. MULL