LITHUANIA'S FINAL ANSWER: NO TROOPS TO UNIFIL

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000793 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NB, NEA, PM E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2016 TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL LH LE SUBJECT: LITHUANIA'S FINAL ANSWER: NO TROOPS TO UNIFIL REF: A) VILNIUS 789 AND PREVIOUS B) SECSTATE 134133 ¶1. (U) Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Rebecca Dunham for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶2. (C) Lithuania will not be making troop contributions to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),despite earlier indications of its serious desire to do so. Lithuania's Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense issued a joint statement August 23 declaring that Lithuania saw no possibilities to contribute to UNIFIL. Middle East desk officer Jurate Ramoskiene confirmed to us August 24 that consideration of the issue was over and this was a final decision with respect to the current appeal. ¶3. (C) Comment: The decision not to send troops to Lebanon does not come as a complete surprise. The GOL had repeatedly told us (ref A) that if it made a troop contribution, it would be small. It takes seriously its pre-existing commitments in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo, and is feeling stretched. The 300,000 lita (about 87,000 euro) Lithuanian pledge of humanitarian assistance to UNIFIL, though small, came quickly. In addition, we hope that the GOL will press its European partners to do more to ensure peace in Lebanon. CLOUD