PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER'S FAREWELL MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000570

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2016
TAGS: PGOV ENRG EINV KNAR LH
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER'S FAREWELL MEETING WITH
AMBASSADOR


Classified By: Pol/Econ Officer Randolph Flay for reasons 1.4(b/d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Lithuania's Parliamentary Speaker Viktoras
Muntianas, during the Ambassador's June 6 farewell call,
expressed hope that a government coalition uniting
Lithuania's political left and right will soon emerge. He
declared his willingness to move Jewish property restitution
forward and thanked the United States for its support of
Lithuania's integration into NATO. Muntianas also expressed
interest in seeing Lithuania in the Visa Waiver Program. The
Ambassador commended the Parliament's support for the Global
War on Terror and continued authorization of a Lithuanian
presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he expressed
appreciation for Parliament's support for matters of
importance to the United States (and U.S. business),
including the American International School. End summary.


2. (C) The Ambassador made a farewell call on Muntianas to
review the highlights of the bilateral relationship in
advance of the conclusion of his tour in Lithuania and
departure from post. Muntianas assumed the Speaker's chair
in April, when parliament removed former Speaker Arturas
Paulauskas in a vote of no confidence. He attained the post
by virtue of his membership in the Labor Party, the
then-governing coalition's largest group, but left Labor and
founded the breakaway Civil Democracy Party after a dispute
with Labor leader Viktor Uspaskich.

GWOT
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3. (C) The Ambassador congratulated Muntianas for Lithuania's
democratic achievements and steadfast support for operations
in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Ambassador reiterated his
standing offer to brief Seimas members about alliance
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

JEWISH ISSUES
--------------


4. (C) The Ambassador told Muntianas that Lithuania has an
opportunity to earn international recognition for coming to
terms with its Holocaust legacy. He commended efforts to
research Jewish communal property claims and draft necessary
authorizing legislation and said he hopes the amendment to
the law on property restitution finds broad parliamentary
support in the coming months. The Ambassador noted that
delaying the restitution process may affect international
support for Lithuania in the long run.


5. (SBU) The Ambassador also raised with the Speaker concerns
about plans to develop the Old Jewish Cemetery in the
Snipiskes district of Vilnius. He acknowledged the
complexity of the competing claims of stakeholders, and said
that protection of Lithuania's historic and cultural legacy
may require legislative intervention. The Speaker said that
public action in this sphere is a very important sign of
democracy, and hoped there would be some positive
developments in both areas soon.

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
--------------


6. (U) The Ambassador thanked the Speaker for the
parliament's assistance in clarifying the tax status of the
American International School in Vilnius. The Speaker's
advisor said the school helped Lithuania to attract foreign
investment and reputable foreign companies.
MULL