RAFI EITAN VISIT TO LATVIA/LITHUANIA - REQUEST FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIGA 000280 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR AND NEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2018 TAGS: PREL PINR LG LH IS SUBJECT: RAFI EITAN VISIT TO LATVIA/LITHUANIA - REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE REF: OHI/POST E-MAILS Classified By: Ambassador Charles W. Larson, Jr. Reason: 1.4 (d) ¶1. (U) This is a joint message from Embassies Riga and Vilnius. This is an action request. Please see para 3. ¶2. (C) We understand that Israeli government minister Rafi Eitan will visit Latvia and Lithuania the week of May 26 to press the two governments to do more on restitution issues related to Holocaust-era property seizures in both countries. We also understand that Eitan may seek meetings with Ambassadors Cloud and Larson or other embassy officials and that embassy personnel may be invited to receptions and other representational/social events in conjunction with the visit. We note that the Israeli embassy here (the Israeli embassy in Riga covers both countries) has generally taken a hands off approach to the restitution issue, while our embassies have been much more active. ¶3. (C) Action request: Please provide front channel guidance on what response we should give to a request for a meeting between Eitan and either US Ambassador (or other member of the mission staff) as well as how we should respond to invitations to representational events in his honor. LARSON