DETAINEE RESETTLEMENT CABLES FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION

S E C R E T VILNIUS 000312

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR S/WCI:CWILLIAMSON, MLAVINE, SMUBANGU, EUR/PGI:ANORMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2017
TAGS: PTER PINR LH
SUBJECT: DETAINEE RESETTLEMENT CABLES FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION

REF: A) STATE 54924 B) VILNIUS 247

Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Rebecca Dunham for Reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)


1. (S) Summary: Lithuania remains interested in pursuing
detainee resettlement, but is still waiting for answers from
the USG before it can proceed. This message provides answers
to questions posed in ref A. End Summary.


2. (SBU) As requested ref A, post designates Michael
Dickerson as POC for Guantanamo Bay detainee resettlement
issues in Lithuania. Mr. Dickerson's office phone is (370) 5
266-5547, e-mail dickersonml@state.gov, and classified e-mail
is dickersonml@state.sgov.gov.


3. (C) As mentioned ref B, Lithuania has no significant
minorities of Egyptians, Mauritanians, Somalis, Palestinians,
Sudanese, or Chinese Uighurs. The latest Lithuanian census
data shows 3 or fewer of each living in Lithuania.


4. (C) Lithuania does, however, have 1,631 Uzbeks, according
to the most recent census. A representative of a local NGO
representing the Uzbek community, Kuisin-oi Zujiene, told us
that there are some small Uzbek communities in Kaunas,
Klaipeda, and Mazeikiai. These communities maintain some
Uzbek customs, traditions, and culture. Mrs. Zujiene told us
that many Uzbeks, however, have intermarried and assimilated
into ethnically Lithuanian communities.


5. (C) Presidential advisor Halina Kobeckaite, who
specializes in minority issues, asserted to us on May 2 that
nearly all of the Uzbeks living in Lithuania were
intermarried, and that although there are three NGOs
representing the Uzbek community, none of them is very
active. Kobeckaite also told us that there are only four
mosques in Lithuania. They are located in Kaunas, Raizai,
Butrimonys, and Keturiasdesimt Totoriu; there is also a small
Muslim prayer room in Vilnius.


6. (C) Lithuania does not have sufficiently strong political,
economic, historic or other ties to third countries that
might serve as alternate destinations for specific detainees,
and that might enable it to work with the USG to persuade
third countries to accept detainees.


7. (S) MFA Americas Director Jonas Paslauskas asked us May 2
about the status of USG efforts to send a team to provide
more in-depth information on GOL options in assuming
responsibility for a small group of detainees. The
Lithuanians agreed in principle to this request from
Washington on April 3 (ref B).
CLOUD