RUSSIAN LOBBYING LITHUANIA FOR MEDVEDEV PROPOSALS

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000995 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2018 TAGS: PREL EUN NATO RU LH SUBJECT: RUSSIAN LOBBYING LITHUANIA FOR MEDVEDEV PROPOSALS A "WASTE OF TIME" REF: EUR/NB NOVEMBER 20 EMAIL TO POSTS Classified By: DCM Damian R. Leader for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) MFA Director of Transatlantic Cooperation and Security Policy Vytautas Leskevicius told Post November 21 that the Russians are not lobbying the Lithuanians in Vilnius for the Medvedev proposals (ref). He said it would be a waste of time looking for support from the Lithuanians and the Russians know it. Leskevicius has heard however that the Russians are lobbying the French, British, and Germans directly in their capitals because he says they are considered by Russia a more susceptible audience. He added that the current Lithuanian fear is that France will speak for the entire EU and engage with Russia on these proposals, something the EU members have not empowered the French to do. ¶2. (C) Leskevicius also reconfirmed that the Lithuanians still support MAP for Ukraine and Georgia. He privately admitted however that they will probably support the British "Annual National Program" idea as a MAP substitute if it also leads to NATO membership and if, he said "it is needed to appease the Germans." CLOUD