EMBASSY VILNIUS WORK PLAN FOR NEW GOVERNMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VILNIUS 000057 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NB E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL MOPS OFDP EINV AMGT LH SUBJECT: EMBASSY VILNIUS WORK PLAN FOR NEW GOVERNMENT REF: A. VILNIUS 13 ¶B. 2004 VILNIUS 1548 ¶C. 2004 VILNIUS 1546 ¶D. 2004 VILNIUS 1523 ¶E. 2004 VILNIUS 1496 Classified By: Pol/Econ Officer Christian Yarnell for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: We are systematically engaging Lithuania's month-old government, including an Ambassadorial meeting with each Cabinet member, on issues of interest to the United States. Our work plan concentrates on the following critical policy goals: 1) GOL Activism in the Global War on Terrorism 2) A Strong, Healthy Lithuanian Democracy 3) Closer U.S.-Lithuanian Economic Ties 4) Bilateral Law Enforcement Cooperation 5) Democracy Building in the Former Soviet Union 6) Effective Embassy Operating Conditions Despite some concerns surrounding a few members of the new government, we remain optimistic that our fruitful cooperation with the GOL will flourish in 2005, consolidating Lithuania's pro-U.S. foreign policy orientation. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Ref D provided some initial observations of Lithuania's new government, which took power on December 14, ¶2004. We now intend to engage with the new government in a systematic way, enabling us to quickly and effectively address all issues of importance to the Mission. Ambassador Mull has already met with the Prime Minister and five Ministers (refs B, C, and septels) and will meet individually with all remaining Cabinet members in the near future. We have also initiated Ministry-specific work plans to maximize the efficiency of our contacts with the government. These plans, which the Front Office will maintain, will track the status of every significant issue that the Mission is working with each Ministry. ¶3. (SBU) Our overarching objective in Lithuania is to encourage a pro-U.S. foreign policy based on shared values, especially concerning issues most critical to the interests of the United States. Below is our work plan, organized by major policy goal, for engagement with the new government on this objective. -------------- Active in Global War on Terrorism -------------- ¶4. (C) Our principal political-military goal is to encourage Lithuania to remain an active ally in the global war on terrorism, particularly by maintaining its significant participation in military operations abroad. We will continue our dialogue at the highest levels of government on Lithuania's contributions to U.S. and NATO-led operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, especially with regards to a possible Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan (ref A). Our work with the MFA and MOD will be particularly intensive, and we have already begun our efforts to bring new DefMin Gediminas Kirkilas up to speed (ref C). While encouraging participation in international operations, we will also work with the MOD to continue progress on military transformation, necessary for Lithuania's active engagement in NATO military structures, and with Parliament to push for adequate funding for the military. -------------- A Strong and Healthy Democracy -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The year 2004 was at times a challenging one for Lithuania's democracy, with the impeachment of President Paksas and numerous high-level corruption scandals. We will in 2005 expand our efforts to help strengthen Lithuania's democracy, most notably by increasing our assistance to anti-corruption measures and ethics training, working closely with the Ministries of Justice and Interior. Promoting tolerance will remain a Mission priority, and we will continue to encourage the government to proceed with the restitution of former Jewish communal property confiscated during the Holocaust. We will also urge the GOL to better combat the problem of trafficking-in-persons, working with the Justice Ministry to develop better anti-TiP legislation, with the Interior Ministry to improve prosecution of traffickers, and with the Health Ministry to improve care for victims of TiP. -------------- Closer U.S. Economic Ties -------------- ¶6. (U) The United States and Lithuania have a healthy economic relationship, but we think it can be much stronger. We will work with the new government, especially Economic Minister Viktor Uspaskich, to implement policies favorable for U.S. investment. Innovation policy remains a top priority, and we hope to conclude a new Science and Technology Agreement with the Ministry of Education. We will work with the Finance Ministry (on taxation issues) and the Interior Ministry (on resident visas) in order to eliminate further barriers to investment. -------------- Law Enforcement Cooperation -------------- ¶7. (U) Lithuania is an invaluable ally in the global war on terrorism. We intend to bring this alliance closer to home, cooperating with the country's law enforcement agencies and government Ministries to strengthen counter-terrorism and terrorist finance measures. We will look for ways to enhance our assistance to Lithuania's border security needs through the Ministry of Interior. We believe that training for police and judges will help Lithuania better protect intellectual property rights. We also anticipate working with the Justice Ministry on a strengthened extradition treaty, as well as progress on extraditions with the Interior Ministry. -------------- Democracy Building in Former Soviet Union -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Lithuania aspires to a position of regional leadership in promoting democracy and helping its neighbors to the east and south integrate further with Western institutions. We will continue to encourage MFA activities aimed at supporting democracy and human rights throughout the former Soviet Union. We will work with other Ministries, such as Education and Environment, on specific projects that help engage Lithuania's neighbors on issues of mutual interest. We will at the same time remind the GOL of U.S. and EU policies concerning the limits of engagement with Belarus in order to avoid any inappropriate contact. -------------- Effective Embassy Operating Conditions -------------- ¶9. (U) We will work almost every government Ministry in order to secure an effective operating atmosphere for the Mission and our people. Such dialogue will include diplomatic status issues with the MFA, taxation of assistance with the Finance Ministry, and streamlining management of educational exchange programs with the Education Ministry. Consular issues, notably improving Lithuania's residency visa procedure, will also loom large on our agenda. -------------- Conclusion -------------- ¶10. (C) Lithuania, since regaining independence in 1991, has proven itself one of America's best friends and partners in the world. We have accomplished a great deal, yet we believe that an even more productive bilateral relationship is within our grasp. While Lithuania's new government brings many new faces to the political scene, some of which may be of concern (refs D and E),we remain optimistic that our constructive cooperation with the GOL will intensify in 2005. The systematic plan of attack that we have outlined here is our road map toward that ambitious but achievable goal. MULL