GOL: ISAF MANDATE ADEQUATE, AS IS; CONCERNS ABOUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000837

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2015
TAGS: MARR PREL AF LH
SUBJECT: GOL: ISAF MANDATE ADEQUATE, AS IS; CONCERNS ABOUT
COUNTER NARCOTICS MISSION

REF: A. SECSTATE 146276


B. VILNIUS 350

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


1. (C) We delivered Ref A points on ISAF's mandate to
Vytautas Leskevicius, Head of the MFA's NATO Division, on
August 10. Leskevicius said that the GOL agrees with the USG
position that the current UN mandate is sufficiently broad to
allow ISAF to support Afghan security forces in responding to
key threats. Leskevicius said the GOL sees no obstacles to
the planned integration of NATO and Coalition forces under
the mandate as currently written.


2. (C) Leskevicius took the opportunity to reiterate the
GOL's concern that its Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)
in Ghowr Province not become involved in counter narcotics
operations (Ref B). Leskevicius told us that the GOL is
worried that involvement in counter narcotics activities
could heighten the threat to Lithuanian personnel. He said
that Lithuania "will seek to have this national caveat
included" in NATO's revised operations plan for ISAF which
will be under discussion this fall.
Mull