LITHUANIA CONCERNED ABOUT VENEZUELA, BUT UNLIKELY

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000826

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM LH VE
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA CONCERNED ABOUT VENEZUELA, BUT UNLIKELY
TO SPEAK OUT ON ITS OWN

REF: SECSTATE 154674

Classified By: Charge Damian Leader for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) We delivered reftel points to Darius Staniulis, Head
of the MFA's Human Rights and NGOs Division, on November 15.
He agreed that some of the proposed constitutional changes
were troubling and some were "totalitarian." He said,
however, that the GOL is not very active in Latin America and
is unlikely to make a statement of concern on its own.
Nonetheless, he said he would discuss this issue with
colleagues at the MFA. He added that an EU member state more
involved in the region, such as Spain, would be a more likely
initiator of a statement condemning the proposed changes.

Comment
--------------

2. (C) We consistently encourage the GOL to be more active
within the EU on issues similar to this. The GOL's default
reaction on issues not directly affecting it, however, is to
follow the lead of larger EU countries. We will continue to
press the GOL to speak out more on issues where its voice
could reinforce USG interests.
LEADER