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.

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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