GAERC: LITHUANIA WANTS TO BRING UKRAINE INTO

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000570 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2018 TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV XG LH SUBJECT: GAERC: LITHUANIA WANTS TO BRING UKRAINE INTO EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE REF: STATE 76596 Classified By: Ambassador John A. Cloud for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On July 17, MFA Common Foreign and Security Policy Head Egidijus Navikas discussed July GAERC points with Post, stressing that Ukraine is front and center on the agenda for the Lithuanians. They will lobby for consensus on a title to a future EU-Ukraine agreement (the Lithuanians want 'Enhanced Agreement'),the need to assign a "European Perspective" to Ukraine, and a call for EU-Ukraine visa facilitation dialogue to begin. Navikas said it is unlikely the EU will agree on all three goals at the GAERC but he said the Lithuanians will continue to lobby for them through the fall. ¶2. (C) Navikas confirmed that Lithuania expects UNSCR 1803 to be adopted as a Common Position at the July GAERC, allowing the Lithuanians to prohibit dealings with the named entities in national legislation. He said Lithuania is very supportive of EU sanctions against Zimbabwe and an increased EU role in resolving Sudan/Chad civil conflicts. Lithuania fully supports the Transitional Federal Charter in Somalia. CLOUD