LITHUANIA WELCOMES U.S. OFFICER ASSIGNMENTS TO PRT

UNCLAS VILNIUS 000240 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NB AND RPM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MOPS AF LH SUBJECT: LITHUANIA WELCOMES U.S. OFFICER ASSIGNMENTS TO PRT REF: SECSTATE 38904 ¶1. This cable contains an action request in para 3. ¶2. DCM informed MFA Undersecretary Dalius Cekuolis March 8, per reftel, of the USG plan to assign a State Department Officer (retired FSO Michael Metrinko) and a USAID officer to the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Chagcharan, Afghanistan. Cekuolis expressed delight at the USG's gesture, and said he would be interested in meeting Metrinko during Cekuolis's visit to Washington April 4-5. We understand, however, that Metrinko is likely to be in Afghanistan at that time. ¶3. We request the Department's assistance in arranging a conference call between Metrinko and GOL officials before Metrinko departs for Afghanistan. Alternatively, should Metrinko's schedule change making him available for a meeting with Cekuolis prior to Metrinko's departure for Afghanistan, we request that the Department facilitate such a meeting during the Undersecretary's visit. Mull