C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000912

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/NB AND CA/VO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2010
TAGS: CVIS PREL XG LH
SUBJECT: EU COMMISIONERS ENCOURAGE LITHUANIA TO IMPOSE VISA
REGIME ON AMCITS


Classified By: CONSUL JAMES FELLOWS FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D


1. Consul met September 1 with MFA consular division chief
Vaidotas Verba, who described a new move by the EU to impose
a visa requirement on Americans. Lithuanian EU
parliamentarian Justas Paleckis received a letter from EU
External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and
Justice, Freedom and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini
(NOTE: Frattini is currently in Lithuania on an official
visit), which Paleckis said encouraged new EU member states
to impose a temporary visa regime in the interest of
reciprocity. Paleckis did not specify a timeframe for
implementation or duration. Verba could not specify which
other parliamentarians might have received this letter.
Paleckis called Verba September 1 looking for some guidance
on this issue, which he throught had been put to rest.


2. Verba viewed this development negatively in light of the
viable Visa Waiver Roadmap Lithuania has worked out with the
USG. He wondered if this might be some kind of EU posturing
leading up to consular troika meetings in London this month.
He expects this development to lead to some internal
discussion before the MFA can react officially.
MULL