CONSULAR PUBLIC OUTREACH ON VISA WAIVER AND ACS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VILNIUS 001226

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/NB, EUR/PPD, CA/P - DHEIEN AND JWECHSLER
ALSO FOR CA/VO/F/P - EPATTERSON AND CKAGARISE
ALSO FOR CA/OCS/ACS - MURBINA-MITTNACH
FRANKFURT FOR RSC - RCO RBROWN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CMGT CVIS KPAO CASC LH
SUBJECT: CONSULAR PUBLIC OUTREACH ON VISA WAIVER AND ACS

REFS: A) STATE 207082, B) VILNIUS 767, C) VILNIUS 410


1. SUMMARY: We take the Department's message about the
relationship between active public diplomacy and good
consular work (ref a) seriously in Vilnius. This post has
an active consular public outreach program, with particular
emphasis on public diplomacy aspects of Lithuania's Visa
Waiver Roadmap (VWR). We have arranged for stories in
newspapers and on television, participated in an Internet
live chat, testified at a parliamentary hearing, and begun a
series of public events outside Vilnius. In addition, we
hold regular AmCit Town Hall meetings and issue a newsletter
to the local Amcit community. These outreach methods provide
different audiences with consistent, accurate information.

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Visa Waiver Roadmap Outreach
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2. Shortly after signing the VWR with the GOL in April (ref
b),post created a VWR Public Diplomacy Plan. Its goal is
to explain the Visa Waiver Program (VWP),manage public
expectations, and help Lithuania qualify for the VWP. The
Consular and Public Affairs Sections (PAS) agreed with the
GOL to "launch a public campaign urging citizens not to
overstay or otherwise abuse their tourist visas." PAS and
CONS coordinate closely on implementing the VWR plan. After
the public release of the VWR at a press conference, post's
first outreach activity was a July 14 radio appearance by
Consul and MFA Consular Department Director Vaidas Verba
(ref A). Our central message, at that event and
subsequently, is that individuals can influence Lithuania's
future VWP eligibility by using their visas properly. This
point also features in post "megatalkers" that staff from
the Ambassador down use as a guide for their public and
press remarks.


3. Since the Consul's radio interview, the Ambassador has
done interviews with over a dozen newspapers, radio and
television stations. On at least six occasions, reporters
raised the VWR, which the Ambassador typically addresses by
emphasizing the steps Lithuania has taken, our enthusiasm
for working with the GOL to help Lithuania qualify for the
program, and how Lithuanians can hasten VWP eligibility.


4. Using the new Consul's arrival in August and an
opportunity to visit behind the interviewing window as
hooks, PAS arranged for Lithuania's most-watched TV station
LNK and its leading daily Lietuvos Rytas to review visa
application procedures, including a tour of our waiting room
and office area. LNK's evening television news included a
story on the August 30 tour and Lietuvos Rytas ran a long
front-page article on September 1. Other news services and
papers picked up the story in shorter versions the following
day. Coverage focused on the basics of applying and the
fact that procedures had not changed with the new Consul.


5. PAS also arranged for a September 14 live chat on
Lithuania's largest Internet portal DELFI. DELFI is a news-
oriented service targeting 25-39 year olds and has
approximately 600,000 regular visitors. The 10:30 to 11:30
am open session, during peak readership time, was advertised
by DELFI in the days preceding the event as an opportunity
to ask the MFA's Verba and the new Consul questions about
all matters consular. They answered over 50 questions on
issues ranging from applying for U.S. visas to the new
biometric Lithuanian passport, mostly in Lithuanian. Only a
few inquiries had to be screened by the respondents as
irrelevant to consular issues. DELFI posted an article of
highlights on their site, and newspapers around the country
then picked up the story.


6. On October 25, the Consul was invited to speak at the
annual joint Seimas (parliament) and Lithuanian-American
Community Commission session. A member of the Seimas and
Consul delivered prepared remarks regarding Lithuania's
prospects for joining the VWP, after which a representative
from the MFA Consular Department provided comment. Consul
then answered questions on the VWR and visa policy for
approximately one hour. This event was broadcast live over
the Seimas website. On October 28, the Public Affairs
Officer participated in a moderated live radio show
discussing the VWR with the same parliamentarian and the
MFA's Verba. The hour-long program provided an opportunity
to emphasize our "open doors, secure borders" policy
encouraging legitimate travel.


7. Post organized a Visa Waiver Roadshow on November 3 in
Alytus, the first in a series planned to take our message
beyond Vilnius. Verba and Consul were the featured
participants. The mayor's office advertised the event as a
presentation on how and why Lithuanians should apply for
visas, the importance of observing U.S. immigration law, and
the GOL's efforts to meet VWP guidelines. Following opening
statements, the audience of 23 asked questions on a range of
visa issues for 45 minutes. Most importantly, the media
spread the word throughout the region, with at least three
articles conveying our message on the proper use of visas.
Our next event is planned for a university in Lithuania's
second largest city, Kaunas.

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AmCit Outreach
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8. Starting in December 2003, post has regularly organized
AmCit town hall meetings. Currently held every four months
in the American Center, they are advertised by e-mail,
notice in the consular waiting room, and an ad in the
English-language regional newspaper Baltic Times. Scheduled
on Saturdays to maximize attendance (typically, at least 50
AmCits show up),these meetings feature most of the country
team. The ambassador starts with a brief overview of post's
activities, and then opens the floor to questions, which
cover a wide range of issues, many not consular-related.
The most recent meeting on September 17 provided the
Consular Section an opportunity to gather information on
AmCits' difficulties in acquiring residence permits.


9. Between town hall meetings, the Consular Section
publishes an AmCit newsletter, which is sent by e-mail to
those registered with the embassy. Printed copies are also
available upon request, and the most recent edition is
posted to our website under the ACS page. Each edition is
up to seven pages long and includes articles from several
Embassy sections, including Pol/Econ, PAS, Consular, and the
RSO. The Ambassador always contributes an article as well
that summarizes noteworthy events at the Mission and in our
bilateral relationship with Lithuania. The current
newsletter includes articles on residency permits, avian
flu, and recent PAS-organized cultural activities.

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Conclusion
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10. Lithuanians tell us that they notice the media
appearances and events that we organize and participate in.
We believe that our proactive outreach on the VWP issue
helps to manage expectations of our intended audiences.
More generally, we think that our consular-related public
diplomacy provides better customer service to all of our
clients, Lithuanian and American alike. As a result of our
ACS-related activities, for example, a long-term resident
American and embassy warden who lives in Klaipeda (on the
opposite side of the country) recently remarked that she
feels more in touch with the Embassy than ever before.

MULL