LITHUANIA WILL FOCUS ON GEORGIA FOR NOVEMBER 19

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000829 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2017 TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV GG IR PK BM LH SUBJECT: LITHUANIA WILL FOCUS ON GEORGIA FOR NOVEMBER 19 GAERC REF: STATE 156474 Classified By: CHARGE DAMIAN LEADER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. Lithuania's focus for the November 19 GAERC will be Georgia. FM Vaitiekunas plans to try to convince other EU members that Georgia needs more support now, not less. He will push for a statement urging other countries not to intervene in Georgia's domestic political affairs. On Kosovo the GOL wants the EU to be active and start planning now for independence. The GOL has positions on the other agenda items, but FM Vaitiekunas will not seek to take the lead on any of them. End Summary. Georgia -------------- ¶2. (C) We delivered reftel points November 15 to Egidijus Navikas, who prepares FM Vaitiekunas's briefing book for the GAERC meetings. Navikas told us that Vaitiekunas is most concerned about Georgia. Navikas said that Vaitiekunas had pressed President Saakashvili on ending the state of emergency and reopening Imedi and other television stations during his visit to Tbilisi. Navikas said that maybe the EU hadn't done all it could leading up to the current crisis. Perhaps the EU should have offered more carrots to Georgia, he added, noting that visa facilitation and other incentives for EU cooperation have languished in the EU bureaucracy. Navikas said that Vaitiekunas is fully prepared for negative voices on Georgia at the GAERC. Navikas characterized the GOL's analysis on Georgia as having only two possible outcomes, one Georgian future in cooperation with the EU, and another under constant Russian pressure and domination. Vaitiekunas will concentrate on Georgian positive democratic steps such as calling for elections, and the fact that the state of emergency is scheduled to be lifted by the time of the GAERC meeting. Vaitiekunas will strongly oppose any statements condemning Georgia at the November 19 GAERC, and will press for a statement urging other countries not to interfere in Georgia's internal political affairs. Kosovo -------------- ¶3. (C) Navikas told us that FM Vaitiekunas would push for the EU to be active if not the main player on Kosovo. Navikas noted that the GOL fully supports the U.S. call for starting preparations for an independent Kosovo now. He said that Vaitiekunas will talk about this point at the GAERC, while emphasizing that Kosovo is a unique situation. The GOL is very concerned about any linkages to CFE or separatist conflicts. EU-Africa Summit -------------- ¶4. (C) Navikas said that Vaitiekunas will not speak on EU-Africa issues, but the GOL feels there should be a more consistent EU approach to dictators. He noted that even though Mugabe would be invited to the summit, he would still need to get a visa and he is on the EU's visa ban list. If Portugal were to turn down the visa request, and the issue went to qualified majority voting, the GOL might support the British in refusing Mugabe's visa request. Iran, Pakistan, Burma, EU-China Summit -------------- ¶5. (C) Navikas told us that the GOL supports keeping uncomfortable topics like human rights and climate change on the EU-China Summit agenda. The GOL supports further sanctions on Iran, including EU sanctions if a UNSCR cannot be passed. The GOL does not want to strongly condemn Pakistani President Musharraf. Navikas noted that Burma is not on the agenda he has for this GAERC. The GOL would consider further sanctions or statements on Burma, but will not introduce the topic. European Defense Agency, EU-NATO Relations, and Bilateral Meetings -------------- ¶6. (C) Navikas said that Vaitiekunas will support an initiative to start negotiations on a long-term EU-NATO agreement on crisis management. Vaitiekunas will also advocate for a lower budget for the European Defense Agency. Vaitiekunas is scheduled to have bilateral meetings with Javier Solana, and the Spanish, Polish, and Swedish Foreign Ministers. LEADER