LITHUANIA'S PLANS FOR GAERC: ENERGY AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VILNIUS 000047

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV ENRG EAID EUN LH
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA'S PLANS FOR GAERC: ENERGY AND
NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY

REF: A. SECSTATE 5640

B. SECSTATE 5256

C. VILNIUS 39

D. VILNIUS 11

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


1. (C) Summary. Lithuania's Foreign Minister plans to
intervene at the January 22-23 GAERC on European
Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and external energy policy. The
GOL supports the UN envoy in Kosovo and agrees that
strengthening sanctions and promoting democracy are both
needed in Iran. End Summary.

European Neighborhood Policy
--------------


2. (C) We delivered refs A and B points on January 18 to
the MFA's Common Foreign and Security Policy Division Head,
Tomas Gulbinas, who prepares the Minister's briefing book
for the GAERC. He said that the GOL "fully agrees" with
the USG position on ENP. He said that the ENP discussion
will focus on a discussion of a December report, with room
for some proposals. He expects Germany to discuss its
plans for this half-year. He said the December report is,
as its title suggests, a very positive step toward
"Strengthening the European Neighborhood Policy." The GOL
is very pleased with the progress being made on an issue to
which it believes it contributed through the MFA's paper on
this subject circulated in summer 2006.

External energy policy
--------------


3. (C) Gulbinas said that discussions at the GAERC will
contribute to awareness of this issue and solidify support
for the EU to seriously address it. The FM will speak in
support of the EU speaking with one voice on the issue.

Support for the UN's Special Envoy in Kosovo
--------------


4. (C) Gulbinas said that the GOL agrees with the USG that
there should be no further delays in moving ahead with the
recommendations of the UN's Special Envoy in Kosovo. He
added that most EU members agree, with the notable
exception of France. We also spoke on January 17 to
Aleksandras Kudaba, Head of the MFA's Central and
Southeastern Europe Division (ref C). He also said that
the GOL will support the Special Envoy's recommendations on
Kosovo, and he agreed with us that the EU and the USG
should have a unified position.

Broader sanctions on Iran
--------------


5. (C) Gulbinas said that individual countries and the EU
should enforce broad sanctions on Iran, broader than UNSCR
1737, which was reached through compromise. This
broadening can occur by expanding national "watch lists" to
include more groups and individuals than are on the
resolution, as the GOL recently agreed to do (ref D). The
GOL also agrees that promoting democracy is important, but
it currently has no programs or plans for programs in
Iran. (Lithuania has no diplomatic representation in
Iran.)

"Window of opportunity" for Poland and Russia to settle
meat issues
--------------


6. (C) Gulbinas said there were meetings on January 17 in
Warsaw between the Poles and the Russians to try to resolve
the disagreement over Polish export of meat into Russia.
He had heard there may be a "window of opportunity" to
resolve this issue. If that is resolved, he said, the EU
and Russia could agree to a Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement sometime soon.

Other Issues
--------------


7. (C) Gulbinas thought that nothing substantial would be
said at this GAERC on the Middle East Peace Process, but he
agreed that the EU should take a more active role to limit
situations such as the Spanish and French-led initiative of
last November. He said that the GOL agreed with the USG's
approach in Somalia and appreciated the USG's financial
support for establishing an African Union presence there.
He had little to say about Darfur, but agreed that the
Sudanese government needs to accept a United

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Nations-controlled peacekeeping force.
CLOUD