LITHUANIA INTERESTED IN USG-RUSSIA DIALOG

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 001266 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NB AND EUR/RUS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2014 TAGS: PREL PGOV RS LH SUBJECT: LITHUANIA INTERESTED IN USG-RUSSIA DIALOG REF: A. SECSTATE 214783 ¶B. VILNIUS 1243 ¶C. NAVRATIL-KRAMER E-MAIL 11/30/05 Classified By: Pol/Econ Officer Gregory L. Bernsteen for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) We conveyed ref A points regarding the December 2 USG-GOR bilateral to Arunas Vinciunas, head of the MFA's Russia Division, December 1. Vinciunas agreed that additional dialogue and confidence-building would be useful. He was particularly interested in learning whether the USG expected to take up issues regarding Russia's relationship with the Baltics. Drawing on talking points (refs A and C), we previewed possible areas of discussion, focusing on areas of greatest relevance to Lithuania such as Kaliningrad transit and the Mazeikiu Nafta oil refinery. Vinciunas was visibly relieved to hear that the discussion will not in any way constitute a reduction in USG support for the Baltics. The GOL also looks forward to DAS Kramer's December 4 readout in Vilnius for Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia on the bilateral meeting with the GOR. ¶2. (C) Vinciunas provided a brief readout of MFA Undersecretary Albinas Januska's meeting with Deputy FM Vladimir Titov in Moscow November 28 (ref B). He characterized the meeting as "surprisingly positive," saying that the Russians were cordial and did not "push back" on any agenda items. Vinciunas said that the GOR did not pressure the GOL to accept any specific bidder for Mazeikiu Nafta, and agreed that the Kaliningrad transit program is running smoothly. KELLY