LITHUANIA EVALUATING SITUATION IN CUBA; NO HINT OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000118 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN CU LH SUBJECT: LITHUANIA EVALUATING SITUATION IN CUBA; NO HINT OF PLANS TO OPEN RELATIONS REF: STATE 18317 Classified By: Ambassador John A. Cloud for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) We shared reftel points with Lina Antanaviciene, acting Director of the MFA's Americas, Africa, Asia, and Pacific Department. Antanaviciene thanked us for the information, and confirmed that events in Cuba had begun a discussion within the MFA about how to respond. She assured us that the GOL also wants to see a democratic Cuba. She added that because of Lithuania's lack of first-hand knowledge of events there (Lithuania remains the only EU member without diplomatic relations with Cuba),it plans primarily to work through Brussels to react to the change. ¶2. (C) Antanaviciene was fully briefed on the Ambassador's most recent exchange with Under Secretary Zygimantas Pavilionis, February 18, during which Pavilionis asked for an update on U.S. thinking on Cuba. The Ambassador noted that the announcement that Castro would step down did not necessarily mean regime change. The Ambassador reminded Pavilionis that we seek a democratic Cuba. Pavilionis took the Ambassador's point. CLOUD