Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05VILNIUS252
2005-03-10 15:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vilnius
Cable title:  

SCENESETTER FOR MINISTER OF DEFENSE GEDIMINAS

Tags:  PREL MARR PINR LH 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VILNIUS 000252 

SIPDIS

FOR SECRETARY RUMSFELD FROM AMBASSADOR MULL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR PINR LH
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR MINISTER OF DEFENSE GEDIMINAS
KIRKILAS' VISIT TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

Classified By: Ambassador Stephen D. Mull; Reason: 1.4 (b and d)

-------
Summary
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VILNIUS 000252

SIPDIS

FOR SECRETARY RUMSFELD FROM AMBASSADOR MULL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR PINR LH
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR MINISTER OF DEFENSE GEDIMINAS
KIRKILAS' VISIT TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

Classified By: Ambassador Stephen D. Mull; Reason: 1.4 (b and d)

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) Mr. Secretary, Lithuanian Defense Minister Kirkilas
comes to Washington March 14 eager to demonstrate that,
despite inexperience in defense policy, he is a capable and
committed friend to the U.S. His performance in less than
three months on the job has been impressively favorable to
our interests: he steadfastly vows that Lithuanian troops
will remain in Iraq as long as the U.S. wants; he did
yeoman's work in pushing Lithuania to volunteer for NATO's
arguably most difficult Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)
in Afghanistan; and has been a strong supporter of
maintaining NATO as the principal forum for transatlantic
security issues. In his meetings with you and other
administration officials, he will likely:

-- brief you on Lithuania's efforts to amass support from us
and other NATO allies for the PRT, and indicate his
military's most important needs for it;

-- commit to long-term engagement in Iraq, seek your thoughts
on how the Mission is likely to change and how Lithuania can
best support it;

-- urge increased U.S. financial support for Lithuania's
military operations, such as in the proposed Coalition
Solidarity Funds;

-- seek your support for Lithuania's efforts to democratize
Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus and other states in the region
through military contacts;

-- ask your views on NATO's future as the principal forum for
transatlantic security dialogue in the wake of German
Chancellor Schroeder's recent comments; and

-- express gratitude for U.S. support for Baltic air
policing, and renew an offer for U.S. use of Lithuanian
facilities.

In addition to praising Lithuania's steadfast support to U.S.
interests, I recommend you continue to assure Kirkilas of
U.S. support for the Afghan PRT, congratulate Lithuania on
its constructive approach to security with Russia and new
democracies in the region, and urge Lithuania to play a more
visible role in Europe's security discussions. Lithuania's
military and diplomatic activism give it a much higher

profile than its small size would suggest, and its
coincidence of views with ours on political-military issues
make it a valuable amplifier for U.S. interests. End Summary.

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An Enemy of the U.S. is an Enemy of Lithuania
--------------


2. (U) Common values, a history of mutual support, and common
goals for regional security bind Lithuania and the United
States. Lithuania continues to recognize a debt of gratitude
to the United States for having maintained a policy of
non-recognition of Baltic annexation throughout the years of
Soviet occupation. Following the restoration of Lithuania's
independence, the United States cemented the friendship,
providing political and financial support to Lithuania,
welcoming the country into the transatlantic alliance, and
supporting Lithuanian membership in NATO and the European
Union.


3. (U) Lithuania already is a well-established transatlantic
partner whom, although a new member of NATO, has proven to be
one of our strongest allies in the transatlantic alliance.
Lithuania's accession to the European Union last year gives
the U.S. a friend in that forum on the question of the
mission and operation of ESDP. The Lithuanian government
views NATO as the guarantor of its security, not ESDP, and
shares our view that ESDP should work within the Berlin Plus
framework, increasing European military capabilities, while
avoiding duplication. ESDP should, they believe, eschew an
autonomous headquarters and a Europe-only mutual defense
policy.


4. (C) Lithuania has approximately 240 soldiers deployed in
support of U.S. or NATO-led operations around the world.
Lithuania currently has 24 service personnel deployed to
Afghanistan in support of ISAF. In Iraq, there are 116
Lithuanian soldiers serving under Danish and Polish command
conducting patrols in each sector, assisting in maintaining
public order, and involved with rebuilding and reconstruction
efforts. The British, Danish and Polish commanders have all
commended Lithuanian soldiers' skills and professionalism.
The Lithuanian Parliament has committed to support this
deployment through the end of 2005. Lithuanian soldiers have
also performed admirably as peacekeepers in the Balkans,
where 100 soldiers are contributing to the increasing
stability of this region. In addition, one Lithuanian
soldiers serves with the EUFOR Staff in EU Operation Althea
(Bosnia) and one officer serves on the OSCE Border Monitoring
Mission in Georgia. The Lithuanian Parliament, in late
2003, voted to extend the
Iraqi mission through calendar year 2004.


5. (C) Until recently, Lithuania maintained a 40-man Special
Operations Squadron in Afghanistan. The country,s SOF
soldiers have received high marks and praise from the U.S.
SOF troops on the ground as well as from the CENTCOM staff.
Unfortunately, they are a small force and the GOL was forced
to bring them home to prepare for their upcoming inclusion in
NATO,s NRF-5 and NRF-6 rotations. The Ministry of Defense
has committed to return the SOF contribution to CENTCOM,s
AOR in 2006, upon completion of those commitments. More
recently, the GOL agreed to lead a Provincial Reconstruction
Team in the western province of Ghowr (see para 7).

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Something To Prove
--------------


6. (C) Kirkilas, a post-communist Social Democrat with close
links to Prime Minister Brazauskas, replaced defense
technocrat Linas Linkevicius as Defense Minister when the new
government took power in December. Eager to overcome popular
perceptions of inexperience in defense matters, he plunged
into high-level activism that has only improved our already
strong defense relationship. As other European allies waver
on how long they will stay in Iraq, Kirkilas has repeatedly
told the parliament and public that Lithuania has an
important obligation to remain in Iraq as long as the U.S.
requests its support, and he has been a vocal advocate of
NATO's Iraq training mission. He overcame heavy skepticism
in prodding the government and parliament to volunteer the
Afghan PRT. He has strongly encouraged internal reform to
make Lithuania's military a better fit to NATO requirements,
and energized Lithuania's deployment to the NATO Reaction
Force. Kirkilas has also been a missionary of democracy,
urging stronger and
more active military links to democratizing forces from
Belarus to central Asia. On Russia, he has scrupulously
avoided the common Baltic temptation to grandstand against
Russian aims in the region, instead focusing on building a
transparent and constructive security relationship with
Lithuania's giant neighbor.

--------------
Agenda for Washington
--------------


7. (C) Kirkilas will likely seek the following in his
meeting with you and other Administration officials during
his Washington visit:

-- Afghanistan PRT: The Ministry,s primary focus at this
time is standing up the Lithuanian-led Provincial
Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. Lithuania agreed to
establish and lead a PRT in the Western province of Ghowr,
based in the town of Chaghcharan. At the same time, the GOL
made it clear that it would require significant assistance
from NATO allies to accomplish the mission (refs A and B).
While Kirkilas and his team are pursuing support requests
through SHAPE (with the generous help and attention of
General Jones),they are eager for clear expressions of
senior U.S. support for their efforts.

-- Iraq: Kirkilas will repeat Lithuania's commitment to
remain shoulder to shoulder with us in Iraq, but will also be
eager for your vision of the Mission's direction in the year
ahead. He is in the process of preparing new appeals to the
Parliament to authorize troop deployments and will want your
advice on what Lithuania could best contribute within its
limited resources.

-- Military Assistance: Lithuanians are keen to obtain as
large a share as possible of the proposed Coalition
Solidarity Funds now under consideration in the Congress to
help finance their activities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

-- Democracy Support: Kirkilas, like Lithuania in general,
is eager to work in support of democracy in the former Soviet
states. He will be eager to hear your thoughts on how best
Lithuania can support military transformation and
strengthening of transatlantic ties in Ukraine and Georgia.
He will brief you on Lithuania's intention to host a
NATO-Ukraine Defense Ministerial consultation in Vilnius on
October 28. He may also brief you on Lithuania's interest in
pursuing mid-level contacts with Belarusian military officers
to empower them as agents of democratic change.

-- NATO Air Policing: For political more than practical
reasons, the NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltics is
extremely important to the Ministry of Defense and Lithuanian
society as a whole. While supporting U.S.- and NATO-led
military operations with troop deployments to regions of
little importance to the average Lithuanian, the GOL can
point to the Air Policing operations as the only tangible
proof that membership in NATO has benefits as well as costs
and that the alliance is prepared to fulfill its obligations
to secure its member states. Ministry officials can be
expected to voice their support of and gratitude for
continued air policing in the Baltics. They are aware,
however, of the U.S. position that this is an interim measure
and that NATO must decide what the long-term solution to
airspace security in the Baltics will be.

-- Future of NATO: Recent suggestions by Schroeder and
others that NATO may be losing its relevance as the principal
transatlantic security forum have rattled Lithuanian
policymakers. Kirkilas will be eager to hear U.S. views on
the question.

-- Lithuanian facilities: During his visit to Washington
last year, then-Minister Linkevicius offered Zokniai Airbase
in Siauliai (site of the current NATO air policing mission)
for any appropriate U.S. needs, such as a role in the
ballistic missile defense system. The Lithuanian government
understands that BMDO will visit Poland to discuss basing
possibilities, and remain interested in U.S. reaction to its
earlier proposal, which remains unanswered from the U.S.
side.

--------------
Strengthening Our Alliance
--------------


8. (C) Lithuania is a small country, but its extraordinary
diplomatic and military activism in recent years and strong
affinity for the U.S. make it a valuable advocate of our
interests in European security questions. I encourage you to
pay warm tribute to Kirkilas's leadership on Iraq,
Afghanistan and other issues of importance to us, while
encouraging him and his colleagues in government to adopt a
higher profile in European discussions of these issues. I
also encourage you to offer all appropriate support and
encouragement for Lithuania's brave volunteer effort in
Afghanistan, and for its continuing outreach to Russia and
other former Soviet states. Investing support and
encouragement in this friendliest of allies will continue to
pay rich dividends for our interests from Brussels to Kabul.
Mull