LITHUANIA: NO ISAF CAVEATS, BUT WOULD CONSIDER ONE

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000350

SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR LH AF DA
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA: NO ISAF CAVEATS, BUT WOULD CONSIDER ONE
FOR COUNTERNARCOTICS

REF: SECSTATE 60862

Classified By: Political/Economic Officer Alexander Titolo for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) This cable contains a request for information. Please
see paragraph 3.


2. (C) We delivered reftel points April 4 on ISAF caveats to
Bartas Trakymas, Acting Head of the MOD's International
Organizations Division, and to Gediminas Varvuolis, Head of
the MFA NATO Division. Trakymas concurred that national
caveats are problematic and hinder operational effectiveness.
Varvuolis agreed, and vowed to raise the topic with ISAF
partners. He stated that the only situation in which he
could envision the GOL imposing caveats on its troops in
Afghanistan would be if counter-narcotics were added to the
ISAF mission.


3. (C) Noting that Denmark is considering participating in a
proposed Lithuanian-led provincial reconstruction team in
Chaghcharan, Afghanistan, Trakymas inquired as to what
caveats Denmark has in place for its ISAF deployment. While
we suggested that Trakymas might seek this information from
Lithuania's Danish partners directly, we would welcome any
information that the Department or our Mission in Copenhagen
could provide that we might share with Lithuania's MOD.
Mull