Minister of Education and Science Pledges Support in Signin

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VILNIUS 000090

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT EUR/PGI FOR POMAINVILLE AND EUR/NB FOR GERMANO
COPENHAGEN FOR DANDO

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SENV TSPL KPAO LH
SUBJECT: Minister of Education and Science Pledges Support in Signin
Science and Technology Agreement

REF(s):


A. VILNIUS 58

B. VILNIUS 57

C. 2004 VILNIUS 1548

D. 2004 VILNIUS 1546

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET

Summary
--------------

1.(SBU) Ambassador Mull met with Minister of Education and Science
Remigijus Motuzas on January 25th to further U.S.-Lithuania cooperati
in science and educational exchange. The Minister pledged support fo
resolving the last obstacle to resigning the Science and Technology
Agreement--the refund of Value-added Taxes on USG-funded programs.
While the Minister is clearly still adapting to his move from the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he did promise continued support for
promoting the Fulbright program, encouraging U.S.-Lithuania teacher-
training cooperation through U.S. NGOs (APPLE),and sustaining
Holocaust education reform. The Ambassador met with Minister Motuzas
as part of his tour of Lithuania's new cabinet (reftels). End Summary

S&T Agreement a Priority for the U.S., and the Lithuanians
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2.(SBU) The Ambassador focused discussion on the renewal of the S&T
Agreement which has been stalled given the resistance of the Ministry
of Finance to establish a VAT refund mechanism. The Minister support
the Ambassador's statements about the importance of the Agreement and
promised to personally raise the issue with the Minister of Finance t
following week. In the Minister's words, the VAT refund mechanism
should not be a major obstacle to resigning the Agreement. The
Ambassador followed up by noting the great collaboration between the
National Academy of Sciences and the Lithuanian Science Council in
innovation policy and promoting changes that will allow Lithuanian
researchers and businesses to effectively work together.

Fulbright, Study in the U.S., and Educational Cooperation
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3.(U) The Ambassador also used the meeting to raise the Minister's
understanding of the breadth of U.S. educational cooperation with
Lithuania and seek support in promoting Fulbright. As the principal
exchange program, the Ambassador sought the Ministry's assistance in
advertising the Fulbright program and identifying the best Lithuanian
candidates. He further reminded that the U.S. offers great
opportunities in undergraduate education and that the Embassy plans t
carryout information sessions in Klaipeda and other cities for
interested students this year. The Ambassador also pointed out the
APPLE program, where for the 15th year approximately 60 American
schoolteachers and educational specialists will travel to Lithuania t
provide trainings for several hundred Lithuanian teachers.

4.(U) The Minister voiced appreciation for the Embassy's efforts and
his assistant noted the special importance of the GLOBE environmental
education program that Lithuania joined in 2002. As the 100th countr
to sign an agreement with the U.S. on GLOBE, Lithuania has linked mor
than a dozen of its schools to an educational network in the U.S. and
internationally that makes scientific measurements, exchanges
information, and shares experience in curriculum development. The ES
Hub in Copenhagen supported the program's expansion in Lithuania.

Holocaust Education
--------------

5.(U) Ambassador Mull applauded the Ministry's efforts at Holocaust
education reform over the past several years, in particular drafting
textbooks that cover the Holocaust in detail. The Minister noted his
work experience as Director of the Department of Minorities and the
significance of Holocaust education. He further informed that the
Ministry will increase its responsibility for Holocaust education
curriculum development with the dissolution of the Foundation for
Education Change (a non-profit organization funded by Soros).

Comment: Closing the Gap on the S&T Agreement
--------------

6.(SBU) In returning to the Ministry of Education and Science after a
10-year break, Minister Motuzas stated his desire to carry over the
great working relationship the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has with t
U.S. Embassy. The first real test of this new relationship will be h
ability to troubleshoot the S&T Agreement VAT obstacle with the
Ministry of Finance. Given his stated commitments and support for th
S&T Agreement from the Lithuanian Science Council and other GOL
institutions, we are confident that progress will continue. End
Comment.

MULL