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