LITHUANIA SEEKS USG ASSISTANCE ON TWO PRT ISSUES

UNCLAS VILNIUS 000627

SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO EUR/NB (MGERMANO),EUR/NCE (MSESSUMS),
EUR/RPM (SWANDERSON) AND PM/PPA (SKWAK)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS MCAP MARR PREF PGOV LH AF HR
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA SEEKS USG ASSISTANCE ON TWO PRT ISSUES

REF: VILNIUS 609


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 6.


2. (U) SUMMARY: The GOL has requested USG assistance in
concluding an agreement with the Government of Afghanistan to
establish a Lithuanian Special Mission. This agreement is a
necessary precondition for the deployment of civilians to
Afghanistan to join the brand-new, Lithuanian-led Provincial
Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Ghowr province (reftel).
Lithuania looks for the USG to encourage the GOA to move
swiftly to effect this agreement. On another PRT issue,
Lithuania seeks U.S. diplomatic support to encourage the
Government of Croatia to participate in the PRT. END SUMMARY.

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LITHUANIA MOVES TO ESTABLISH SPECIAL MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN
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3. (U) The MFA proposes to initiate an exchange of letters
with the Government of Afghanistan by which the GOA would
invite and the GOL would agree to establish a Special Mission
in Afghanistan. An appendix to the letters constitutes an
agreement on the status of PRT personnel. (Text of the
agreement and appendix to follow by email.) Foreign Minister
Antanas Valionis signed a diplomatic note on June 14 to be
forwarded to the Afghan Embassy in Warsaw, with copies to the
Afghan Embassy in Washington and the Afghan Mission to the
UN, to initiate this process. Lithuanian law precludes
sending civilians on assignment to Afghanistan without
authorizing legislation. Agreement on the Special Mission
will set the stage for the GOL to seek parliamentary approval
to deploy civilians. The exchange of letters and GOL
approval will allow Lithuania's PRT Political Advisor (POLAD)
to assume his duties in Chaghcharan, even in advance of
Parliamentary approval. It will also enable the GOL to send
civilian specialists to
the PRT in the future.


4. (U) Lithuania established diplomatic relations with
Afghanistan on March 31, 2005, but does not yet have an
ambassador in Kabul. The proposed agreement designates the
head of the Special Mission (the POLAD) as Charge d'Affairs
Ad Interim. The annex to the agreement confers immunities
and privileges on PRT personnel.

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CROATIA CONSIDERS CONTRIBUTION TO CHAGHCHARAN PRT
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5. (SBU) Kestutis Jankauskas, Director of the MFA's Security
Policy Department, told us he had recently discussed with
interlocutors in Zagreb the possibility of Croatia
contributing to the Lithuanian-led PRT. The possibility
under consideration is for a modest police or civilian
deployment, probably numbering one to three individuals.
Jankauskas said the Croatian government will make a final
decision in late August or early September. He requested
that the USG encourage the Government of Croatia to provide
such a contribution.

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COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST
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6. (SBU) Enabling Lithuania to deploy the civilian
complement of the PRT clearly advances USG interests in
Afghanistan -- and will be welcome news to the U.S. POLAD
already on the ground. Post encourages the Department to
raise this issue with appropriate Afghan Government
officials, impressing upon them the importance to the
Chaghcharan PRT of concluding an agreement soonest.
Additionally, post requests Department consider encouraging
the Croatian Government to participate in the Lithuanian-led
PRT. A Croatian role, however modest, will supplement
Lithuania's resources and will enhance the multinational
character of the mission.

Mull