LITHUANIA CONSIDERING CLOSER TIES WITH IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 001113 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EUR/NB AND NEA/NGA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2016 TAGS: PREL LH IR SUBJECT: LITHUANIA CONSIDERING CLOSER TIES WITH IRAN REF: VILNIUS 608 Classified By: Consul James Fellows for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (U) This is an action request -- see para four. ¶2. (C) MFA Americas and Asia Director Jonas Paslauskas told us December 13 that the GOL was considering an Iranian government request to hold working-level (director level) meetings. The GOL already has diplomatic relations with the GOI. He said that the GOL had no issues to pursue with the Iranians, but said that some EU governments had encouraged the GOL to do more with Iran. He said that the objective of such contacts would be to collect information on Iranian intentions that could be of use to the USG and the EU. Paslauskas noted that the GOL's Ankara-resident ambassador, on his return from a trip to Iran, was "swarmed" by diplomatic colleagues eager for information. ¶3. (C) Paslauskas assured us that the talks would not take place before President Adamkus's February visit to Washington, and expressed the GOL's interest in USG views on the matter. ¶4. (C) ACTION REQUEST: We would appreciate guidance on how to respond to the GOL. The GOL has proven receptive to our advice on Iran before -- see reftel, in which the GOL declined a request last summer for Vice President Esfandian Rahim-Mashaei to meet with President Adamkus and the then-Economy Minster. CLOUD