LITHUANIAN PM VISITS MOLDOVA, DISCUSSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 001038 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2016 TAGS: PREL LH RS MD SUBJECT: LITHUANIAN PM VISITS MOLDOVA, DISCUSSES PEACEKEEPING FORCES, RAILROADS, AND RUSSIA REF: STATE 187131 Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Rebecca Dunham for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ) ¶1. (C) Summary. The GOL strongly supports efforts to develop an EU peace Consolidation Mission for Moldova, but MFA officials do not believe that consensus is possible in the EU. End Summary. Consensus lacking for EU PCM Mission in Moldova -------------- --- ¶2. (C) We discussed reftel points with Arunas Vinciunas, Director of the MFA's Eastern Europe and Central Asia Department November 16. He said that Lithuania maintains its strong support for a mechanism to internationalize the peace keeping forces in Moldova, but that EU consensus is unlikely. Notably, the French were opposed, he said. Lithuania, along with Poland and the other Balts, are trying to keep the Belgian initiative alive. Tomas Gulbinas, Head of the MFA's Common Foreign and Security Policy Division, told us that the EU diplomats involved agree that another meeting in a format similar to the October 16 meeting in Vienna would be futile, and that the support of Europe's "big countries" is necessary first. Lithuania remains actively engaged in Moldova -------------- ¶3. (C) Moldova remains one of Lithuania's neighborhood policy priorities. Lithuania's Prime Minister Kirkilas met with President Voronin in Moldova November 3 to emphasize Lithuania's support for Moldova in the Euro-integration process. Vinciunas, who accompanied the PM on the visit, said that their meetings with Voronin and Speaker Lupu dispelled concerns of a Russian-Moldovan deal to end the wine bans in exchange for Moldova undermining GUAM and not seeking NATO membership. "I would not sell our independence for a bottle of wine," Voronin reportedly told his ministers. ¶4. (C) Lithuania has a technical advisor from the Lithuanian MFA posted in the Moldovan MFA to advise on Euro-integration, and also contributes six customs officials to the EU Border Monitoring Mission. Gulbinas said that the MFA is considering sending Lithuanian "customs monitors" to observe the train that travels through Transnistria, although he couldn't tell us how this would be possible without the agreement of Transnistria's separatist regime. CLOUD