LITHUANIA AGREES HUMAN RIGHTS IN AZERBAIJIN

UNCLAS VILNIUS 000531 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR DRL/AE SILVERMAN AND EUR/CARC BAHL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM OSCE AJ LH SUBJECT: LITHUANIA AGREES HUMAN RIGHTS IN AZERBAIJIN IMPORTANT REF: SECSTATE 99391 We delivered reftel points to Darius Staniulis, head of the MFA's Human Rights and NGOs Division, and Judita Vaitiekunaite, third secretary of the MFA's Central Asia and South Caucasus Division, on July 19. Both agreed that democracy and human rights are important issues in Azerbaijan and the neighborhood. Staniulis noted that the GOL supports establishing an EU mission in Azerbaijan. Vaitiekunaite mentioned that Lithuania recently established an embassy in Azerbaijan, and the GOL provides technical support of import and export standards as well as military training to the GOAJ. Vaitiekunaite predicted that with elections coming next year, the human rights situation could get worse, as the Government stifles dissent. CLOUD