NGO CONCERNS -- NOT JUST IN RUSSIA

UNCLAS VILNIUS 001305 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EUR/NB AND EUR/RUS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL RS LH SUBJECT: NGO CONCERNS -- NOT JUST IN RUSSIA REF: A. SECSTATE 222292 ¶B. VILNIUS 1287 AND PREVIOUS The MFA is concerned about NGOs in Russia... -------------- ¶1. (SBU) We delivered reftel points regarding Russia's proposed new NGO law to Arunas Vinciunas, head of the MFA's Russia desk on December 13. He told us that the GOL continues to share our concerns regarding potential constraints on NGO activities. According to Vinciunas, however, the Nordic and Baltic Foreign Ministers jointly decided to wait until the second reading of the law on December 16th before proceeding further. If the Duma does not substantively amend the law, they will then discuss their next steps. We urged Vinciunas to consider raising this issue with the GOR sooner rather than later, and emphasized that even potential amendments would likely leave the door open for the GOR to selectively target NGOs. ...while politicians defend beleaguered NGOs here... -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Some Lithuanian politicians finally took a stand December 9 against a major newspaper's recent attacks on NGOs (ref b): 47 prominent politicians, including Seimas members, two European parliament members, and two ministers, signed a petition recognizing NGO contributions to Lithuania's development. Most of the signatories were from opposition parties, but fourteen, including Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis, were from the governing coalition. ...and the PM adds fuel to the fire -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Prime Minister Brazauskas, in a radio interview December 13, said that the GOL is neither attacking NGOs nor preventing them from operating in Lithuania. He said nothing, however, in support of the activities or accomplishments of NGOs in Lithuania. Brazauskas remarked that some NGOs calling themselves "institutes" and claiming to represent society are, in fact, only two or three people expressing their own opinions. (Note: Many Lithuanian NGOs, including Transparency International, the Civil Society Institute, and Open Society are very small, and the PM's insinuation tars them all with the same brush.) MULL