YUSHCHENKO VISITS LITHUANIA, REBUFFED ON BILATERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 001047 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2018 TAGS: PREL XG UP LH SUBJECT: YUSHCHENKO VISITS LITHUANIA, REBUFFED ON BILATERAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Classified By: DCM Damian R. Leader for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: President Adamkus and Ukrainian President Yushchenko met December 9 in Vilnius to sign a "roadmap" for the Joint Declaration of Strategic Partnership, previously announced in May. They also discussed Ukraine's membership in the new EU Eastern Partnership initiative, and the NATO-Ukraine Commission. Adamkus also told Yushchenko that Lithuania is not prepared to sign a bilateral common defense and security agreement at this time. Looking forward, new GOL Foreign Minister Usackas will visit KYIV to discuss EU/NATO cooperation issues after Christmas. End summary. ¶2. (C) Presidential Advisor Simonas Satunas told DCM December 11 that the Yushchenko visit December 9 was prompted by the Ukrainian President's "urgent" desire to sign the "roadmap" for the Joint Declaration of Strategic Partnership. The joint declaration itself was announced in May. The "roadmap" covers the actual security, economic, energy, and environmental cooperation called for by the declaration. ¶3. (C) Satunas also said Yushchenko pressed Adamkus on agreeing to a bilateral security and defense agreement, something that was first presented to Lithuania in November. Such an agreement would commit Lithuania to an Article 5-like common defense guarantee with Ukraine. Yushchenko claimed the U.S. was close to signing a similar guarantee. Adamkus told him however that Lithuania is not prepared to sign such an agreement at this time. The Ukrainian President also raised the December 2-3 NATO ministerial in Brussels, saying he was happy with the result even though his country did not receive MAP. He also told Adamkus that he has advocated NATO membership with the Ukrainian public for the past two years and that support for membership has doubled since then from 17 to 34 percent. ¶4. (C) Satunas said the Presidents also discussed corruption and energy issues. Yushchenko agreed that there are problems for Lithuanian investors in Ukraine due to corruption. He told Adamkus that these investors should raise any corruption issues directly with the President's office and that he will help "sort them out." Yushchenko and Adamkus also agreed to set up a Belarus-Lithuania-Ukraine trilateral group to discuss ways to export Ukrainian electricity to Lithuania -- something Lithuania seeks as a way to end its energy isolation -- as expeditiously and transparently as possible. ¶5. (C) MFA Head of Ukraine and Moldova Division Dainius Zikevicius told Post December 16 that new Foreign Minister Usackas will visit Ukraine sometime in the next month. He intends to meet with the Ukrainian President, Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, and will further engage with the Ukrainians on the EU Eastern Partnership and the NATO-EU Commission. CLOUD