LITHUANIA, EU ADVOCATE PUBLIC DIPLOMACY TO BOSNIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000924

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV XG BK EU LH
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA, EU ADVOCATE PUBLIC DIPLOMACY TO BOSNIAN
CIVIL SOCIETY

REF: A. STATE 113894

B. VILNIUS 923

Classified By: Charge Damian R. Leader for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) The MFA's Acting Head of EU Enlargement Nerijus
Aleksiejunas told Post October 28 that Lithuania is concerned
by the deteriorating situation in Bosnia (ref a) -- all the
more disturbing, he pointed out, given that the Bosnians just
signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU
in June 2008 and are currently negotiating Schengen visa
facilitation.


2. (C) Aleksiejunas said Lithuania is working within the EU
to keep Bosnia on a path to European integration and that
many in Brussels are advocating an increase in EU-centered
public diplomacy as a way to "enforce" the EU perspective
with Bosnian civil society. He noted the "unhelpfulness" of
Prime Minister Dodik's comments hinting at eventual
independence for the Republic of Srpska, and said the EU
plans to take a mediating role in any ethnic-based
disagreements within Bosnia.


3. (C) Post also raised Bosnia with the Head of Common
Foreign and Security Policy Egidijus Navikas when discussing
the November Gymnich and GAERC meetings (ref b). Navikas,
more senior on EU issues than Aleksiejunas, confirmed both EU
and Lithuanian concerns about Bosnia but said honestly that
he doubted the situation there would get much focus in
upcoming EU meetings, which will be more about EU-Russia and
U.S.-EU relations.
LEADER