OUTPOURING OF LITHUANIAN SUPPORT FOR TSUNAMI

UNCLAS VILNIUS 000008

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR EAID PGOV LH
SUBJECT: OUTPOURING OF LITHUANIAN SUPPORT FOR TSUNAMI
VICTIMS

REF: SECSTATE 959


1. We delivered reftel points encouraging assistance for the
victims of the December 26 Indian Ocean earthquake and
tsunami to Diana Mickeviciene of MFA's Asia and Pacific

SIPDIS
Division on January 4. Mickeviciene said that the GOL will
likely announce on January 5 plans to contribute 150,000
Litas (USD 60,000) from its reserve fund to the Lithuanian
Red Cross's special account for victims. She added that the
Vilnius Municipality will contribute a further 100,000 Litas
(USD 40,000) to the account. Lithuania's Red Cross reports
that, to date, more than 900 private donors have contributed
an additional 155,000 Litas (USD 62,000) to the account.
Caritas, a charity affiliated with the Catholic Church, has
collected nearly 12,000 Litas (USD 5,000) in private
donations.


2. There were no Lithuanian casualties from the events of
December 26.


3. Comment: Given the absence of Lithuanian casualties and
this country's relative poverty (second-lowest per-capita
income in the EU),the outpouring of assistance from the
government and private citizens here strikes us as generous.
KELLY