JUSTICE MINISTER PROMISES NO CHANGE IN STATEGIC

UNCLAS VILNIUS 000561

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KNAR LH
SUBJECT: JUSTICE MINISTER PROMISES NO CHANGE IN STATEGIC
DIRECTION DURING FAREWELL MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR

REF: VILNIUS 526


1. (U) SUMMARY: Lithuania's acting Minister of Justice
Gintautas Buzinskas, during the Ambassador's June 9 farewell
call, said that there will be no slippage in the GOL's
commitment to Jewish property restitution. He also thanked
the United States for its excellent law enforcement
cooperation. The Ambassador urged Buzinskas to present soon
the draft amendment to the restitution law to the parliament,
which would allow the process of restituting communal Jewish
property to move forward. Buzinskas said he was proud of the
level and quality of law enforcement cooperation with the
United States, the signing of the Mutual Legal Assistance
Treaty, and success with extraditions. Buzinskas said that
the United States could be confident that any government that
emerges from coalition talks (reftel) will be a strong ally
in law enforcement cooperation. END SUMMARY.

GOL COMMITMENTS ON PROPERTY RESITUTION "NOT REVIEWABLE"
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2. (U) The Ambassador told Minister Buzinskas at their June 9
farewell meeting that he hoped the Ministry will present the
amendment on Jewish Communal Property Restitution to the
parliament in the immediate future. While lamenting the
delays the government's collapse has caused, Buzinskas said
that the GOL's commitment to the legislation is "not
reviewable" and that the process will go forward. Buzinskas
said the Ministry needed to resolve a couple of technical
issues, including adding a statement to the amendment that
will detail the restitution payment schedule. He was
confident that the new minister, when appointed, will take up
the issue quickly. The Ambassador said that he had spoken
with all the key party leaders in the parliament and they had
expressed support for the legislation; the key now is to move
the amendment to the parliament.

LEGAL COOPERATION
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3. (U) The Ambassador congratulated Buzinskas for an active
and productive tenure as Minister of Justice, overseeing
substantial integration into EU law enforcement structures,
the signing of the U.S.-Lithuania Mutual Legal Assistance
Treaty in 2005, and the expanded cooperation in law
enforcement between the United States and Lithuania. The
Ambassador said he hopes to see the Lithuanian fugitive
Gintaras Petrikas extradited from the United States and
brought to justice in Lithuania. Buzinskas noted that his
team at the Ministry of Justice is talented and dedicated,
and emphasized that the change in Lithuania's government will
not affect cooperation with the United States.

VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
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4. (U) Entrance into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) remains a
key goal for Lithuania, Buzinskas said, noting that expanded
opportunities in the EU make it less likely that Lithuanians
will misuse their U.S. visas. The Ambassador said that
Lithuania has made substantial progress in meeting most of
the VWP requirements and that overstays have decreased
noticeably. With the refusal rate decreasing as Lithuanians
better comply with the terms of their visas, the Ambassador
said he hoped Lithuania will meet all the VWP criteria in the
near future.

COMMENT
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5. (U) A law professor and former diplomat, Gintautas
Buzinskas is a dependable ally in the Ministry of Justice.
While his future in the Labor Party and politics is
uncertain, the ability of the Ministry of Justice to
implement substantial reforms and invigorate its workforce
with an inflow of talented, engaged, and youthful workers
bodes well for the future. We will continue to emphasize the
importance of restitution and U.S.-Lithuanian law enforcement
cooperation with the new government.
MULL