LITHUANIA SOLICITING SUPPORT FOR CHAGCHARAN PRT

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000198

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NB, EUR/RPM, EUR/PM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/28/2014
TAGS: MOPS MCAP PREL PGOV LH
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA SOLICITING SUPPORT FOR CHAGCHARAN PRT

Classified By: POL/ECON OFFICER TREVOR BOYD
FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary. Kestutis Jankauskas, Director of the MFA's
Security Policy Department, on February 25 outlined the
status of Lithuania's planning for the Lithuania-led
provincial reconstruction team (PRT) in Chagcharan,
Afghanistan, and GOL efforts to solicit support for the
mission from NATO allies. Jankauskas also confirmed that the
GOL understood the need to make its PRT requirements known to
SHAPE, which will coordinate the PRT. Lithuania, he said, is
planning to have an advance party of administrative and force
protection personnel in Chagcharan by May 15. The GOL
expects to establish initial operational capabilities by June

1. The PRT is scheduled to reach full operational capability
by October 1. End Summary.


2. (C) Jankauskas provided a read out on whom the Lithuanians
have approached and likely contributions to the mission as
follows below, underscoring that no one has yet signed on to
the mission.

--Denmark's initial thinking is to deploy two six-person
Military Observer Teams (MOTs).
--German and Lithuanian Ministers of Defense, meeting at the
February 12-13 NATO Conference in Munich, discussed possible
German strategic (between Lithuania and Afghanistan) and
tactical airlift support (between Kabul and Chagcharan) to
the mission. The German are planning to provide lift for the
reconnaissance mission to Chagcharan, to begin as soon as
weather in the region permits.
--Lithuania is considering approaching Hungary for a
contribution.
--Iceland has given positive indications that it will
contribute civilian specialists, probably police, to the
mission.
--Latvia's foreign minister privately promised the GOL a
Latvian contribution. The Latvian ForMin, Jankauskas
suggested, had apparently gotten ahead of his government's
official position, and is now working with political leaders
in Riga to build consensus for a Latvian contribution.
Lithuania has requested that Latvia redeploy an explosives
ordinance disposal team, already in Afghanistan, to the
Chagcharan mission during its next troop rotation.
--The Netherlands indicated it will likely not contribute to
the mission.
--Norway is considering participating, but has made no
indication regarding what resources it may allocate.
--Romania has provided no substantive response to GOL
overtures, but has indicated that it would contribute no more
than a six-person MOT;
--Sweden has given positive signals that it will contribute
civilian law enforcement specialists to the mission.
--The UK, like Germany, has offered to provide lift to the
reconnaissance mission. HMG is considering allocating up to
ten military personnel to the Chagcharan PRT, but emphasized
in discussions with the GOL that it has made no commitment
beyond the offer of reconnaissance lift.


3. (C) Lithuania, Jankauskas said, will include a POLAD in
the PRT, and has tentatively tapped Dainius Baublys, First
Secretary of the MFA's Arms Control, Non-Proliferation and

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Disarmament Division for the job. Jankauskas said the GOL is
looking for USG support and advice in locating interpreters
and securing language training in Dari.


4. (C) Lithuania is prepared to conduct a reconnaissance
mission to the region. Severe winter weather, however, has
postponed their departure since mid-February. The mission
has been rescheduled to occur on or about March 15. Germany
has agreed to provide strategic airlift assets to the
operation.


5. (C) Comment. Lithuania is taking its leadership role in
the Chagcharan PRT very seriously, and will continue to
solicit support from NATO allies for the mission, and to work
the SHAPE bureaucracy. They will also continue to look to
the U.S. to fill in the missing pieces.
Mull