LITHUANIAN PRIORITIES FOR THE DECEMBER 10 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000877 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/09/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY LH SUBJECT: LITHUANIAN PRIORITIES FOR THE DECEMBER 10 GAERC REF: A) STATE 164327 B) STATE 163945 Classified By: DCM Damian Leader for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Lithuania will seek to include a statement on energy security in the summit conclusions at the GAERC meeting on December 10. FM Vaitiekunas will also emphasize the importance of helping Moldova and the inadequacy of the Black Sea Energy group for the countries in the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) East group in commission communications. He will also express Lithuania's desire that ENP Status and membership aspirations be complimentary. Lithuania supports a further round of EU sanctions on Iran. End Summary. EU Enlargement and Energy Security -------------- ¶2. (C) We delivered ref A points to Egidijus Navikas, Head of the Common Foreign and Security Policy Division at the MFA and drafter of the Foreign Minister's briefing book on December 7. Navikas told us that Lithuania is pro-enlargement. Navikas said that some countries want to see ENP status as an alternative to membership aspirations, while the GOL would like to see ENP status as a pre-accession stepping stone. Navikas said that consensus seems to lie in the middle; ENP status and membership aspirations are complimentary. Vaitiekunas will promote parity between ENP benefits in the Mediterranean and in ENP East. Vaitiekunas will again seek to focus the EU on energy security and include a statement in the summit conclusions. Moldova and Georgia -------------- ¶3. (C) FM Vaitiekunas will propose upgrading Moldova's status to an advanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in 2008, similar to the relationship with Ukraine. He will be careful to avoid mentioning membership prospects so as not to scare some EU members. Navikas expected UK support on this front and was cautiously optimistic that the proposal would gain traction. Lithuania doesn't plan to say much on Georgia at this GAERC. Vaitiekunas will encourage EU members to send as many observers as possible to elections in Georgia on January 5. Kosovo -------------- ¶4. (C) Navikas said that he expected unity on Kosovo, but some discussion on abstentions from a measure recognizing independence. A few abstentions would not block the necessary work that would need to be done immediately following a declaration of independence by Kosovo. Lithuania remains ready to recognize Kosovo. Iran, Pakistan, and Lebanon -------------- ¶5. (C) We encouraged the EU to send a robust election observer mission to Pakistan. Navikas said that Lithuania does not oppose the idea, but Vaitiekunas will almost certainly not use his limited time to advocate for it. He had a similar reaction to encouraging rapid Lebanese Presidential Elections without condition (ref B). Navikas said that the GOL remains willing to use sanctions as a valuable tool for preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He said that the GOL supports a third UNSCR sanctioning Iran, and if that is not possible it would support further EU sanctions. The GOL doesn't believe the latest National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) in any way changes the fact that Iran has not complied with the first two UNSCRs or mitigates the danger of its nuclear program. CLOUD