(C) LITHUANIA TO INTERVENE ON NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VILNIUS 000438

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2017
TAGS: EUN ENRG ETRD ETTC KPAL PARM PGOV PREL LH
SUBJECT: (C) LITHUANIA TO INTERVENE ON NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY
AT JUNE 18-19 GAERC

REF: STATE 80034

Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF REBECCA DUNHAM FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D
)


1. (C) Summary: Lithuania plans to intervene on neighborhood
policy at the June 18-19 GAERC. The GOL is happy with the
German Presidency's handling of this issue, but still has
some points to add to the conclusions. Lithuania expects a
shortened period of discussion for all agenda items to save
time for discussion of institutional reforms. End Summary.

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EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY
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2. (C) We delivered reftel points on the June 18 GAERC agenda
items to Tomas Gulbinas, head of the Common Foreign and
Security Policy Division at the MFA. Gulbinas told us that
the GOL plans to intervene on neighborhood policy. The GOL
is happy with the German Presidency's handling of this issue,
but has additional points it would like added to the
conclusions. In particular the GOL wants to see more market
access to integrate countries in the neighborhood into the EU
markets. Gulbinas said the GOL also wants to see more
progress on visa facilitation. He added that this issue is
most problematic in Georgia where South Ossetians and Abkhaz
with Russian passports will be able to get visas for far less
than those who have Georgian passports.


3. (C) Gulbinas continued by saying that the Georgians had
circulated a letter to all EU states requesting a start to
negotiations on visa facilitation. He said that some EU
countries including Austria were hesitant because they were
concerned with criminals of Georgian origin getting visas.
Gulbinas said that the GOL did not find this argument
convincing and that visa facilitation did not mean decreasing
security.


4. (C) Gulbinas said it was also a GOL priority to get a Free
Trade Agreement (FTA) for Georgia and an asymmetrical Trade
Agreement for Moldova, and work towards Ukraine's entry into
the WTO, which would open the way for a FTA.

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MOLDOVA
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5. (C) Gulbinas gave an update from Moldovan President
Voronin's June 9 visit to Lithuania. Voronin met with
President Adamkus and former President Brazauskas. Gulbinas
said that Voronin admitted in these meetings that there had
been discussions with Russia about the Transnistrian conflict
outside of the 5 plus 2 format, but that there was no deal in
the works. Voronin assured Adamkus that nothing would be
signed in the foreseeable future. The GOL encouraged Voronin
to stay within the 5 plus 2 format.

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CUBA
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6. (C) Gulbinas said he expected Spain to continue to press
for a more open EU policy with Cuba, but that he didn't think
it had the support necessary to overcome the status quo and
the 1996 Common Position on Cuba. He said that all
discussions would be shortened to save time for discussions
of institutional reforms in preparation for the June 21 - 22
European Council meeting. Gulbinas said the GOL thinks this
is the wrong time to send a sign of openness to the
government of Cuba.


7. (C) In a separate meeting on June 12 with Valteris
Baliukonis, Foreign Policy Advisor to President Adamkus,
Ambassador Cloud stressed the importance of not sending
signals of acceptance to the Castro government during this
time of transition. Baliukonis accepted this message and
agreed. (Note: Lithuania does not have diplomatic relations
with Cuba at this time.)

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KOSOVO
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8. (C) Gulbinas said the GOL supports the Ahtisaari
recommendations and hopes for a UNSCR on Kosovo as soon as
possible. Gulbinas said the GOL hadn't thought about plan B
and didn't want to think about what would happen if the UNSCR
were vetoed by Russia. Gulbinas remarked that Russia was a
fish that liked to swim in muddy waters and would be happy to

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see this issue unresolved for as long as possible.

CLOUD