(C) LITHUANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER CONFIRMS DRAW-DOWN

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000401

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2017
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL PGOV EAID LH
SUBJECT: (C) LITHUANIAN DEFENSE MINISTER CONFIRMS DRAW-DOWN
IN IRAQ

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN CLOUD FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador Cloud reiterated the U.S.
preference that the GOL leave a platoon of troops in Iraq to
Lithuanian Defense Minister Juozas Olekas on May 28. Olekas
said that, after deliberations with President Adamkus and FM
Vaitiekunas, the GOL has decided to keep some staff officers
and trainers, but not a platoon, in Iraq. Acknowledging that
it fell short of U.S. expectations, Olekas attributed the
decision to increasing parliamentary pressure, worsening
public opinion about the war, and other military commitments.
End Summary.

IRAQ PRESENCE
--------------


2. (C) On May 28, Ambassador Cloud and Defense Attache met
with Lithuanian Minister of Defense Juozas Olekas.
Ambassador Cloud said that we understand the difficulties
presented by Danish and British troop reductions this summer
and how that would create challenges for the logistical
support of the Lithuanian platoon in Basrah. He emphasized
the unified USG support for a Lithuanian platoon remaining in
Iraq, including General Petraeus's strong preference for
coherent combat formations to remain in Iraq. The Ambassador
recalled that Acting DASD Debra Cagan conveyed this message
during her visit to Vilnius two months ago, and DASD Dan Fata
reinforced the message.. The unified USG position, the
Ambassador concluded, is that Lithuania should keep a platoon
in Iraq.


3. (C) Olekas responded by saying that the Danish drawdown is
only one reason for GOL reconsideration of the continuing
Lithuanian presence in Iraq. Public opinion is becoming
increasingly opposed to the war. Political pressure in the
Seimas (parliament) has also become a factor. Lithuania
continues to lead and fund a PRT in Afghanistan. Lithuania
will deploy Special Operations Forces (SOF) to Southern
Afghanistan this summer. The GOL would like to have stronger
units consolidated in Afghanistan and Kosovo while continuing
some presence in Iraq. The GOL is also considering an
enhanced presence in Kosovo in a combined
Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian battalion.


4. (C) After much deliberation, Olekas continued, the
President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and he agreed
that the best course of action is to keep some staff officers
and trainers in Iraq. Olekas argued that this would be the
best course of action in terms of maintaining long-term
support in the Seimas for international operations. He hoped
he would succeed in his new proposal to the Seimas to extend
approval for international operations for three years, and
asked for USG understanding. He said that he knew that the
GOL's intended course of action did not meet U.S.
expectations, but he expressed the hope that it will enable
the MOD to maintain political support for foreigndeployments
while they also seek to increase Lithuanian defense spending.


5. (C) Olekas added that the GOL still considers the United
States to be a very important defense partner. He said that
Lithuania will continue to work closely with the United
States and will continue to pursue productive cooperation.


6. (C) Ambassador Cloud assured Olekas that we remain friends
and allies. Lithuania, as a sovereign state, will make its
own decisions, but we want to be clear about the USG
position. There is work that remains to be done in Iraq, and
we need capable units from our coalition partners to see it
through.

KELLY