(U) AUTHORIZATION FOR AMBASSADOR ANNE DERSE TO

UNCLAS STATE 116771 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL PARM MARR MNUC KNNP LH US SUBJECT: (U) AUTHORIZATION FOR AMBASSADOR ANNE DERSE TO SIGN EXTENDED/AMENDED U.S.-LITHUANIA WMD AGREEMENT ¶1. (U) This is an action request; please see Paragraph 3. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Based on blanket C175 authority granted by then-Under Secretary for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering on November 22, 1997 to negotiate, conclude and amend agreements concerning cooperation to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and promote defense and military relations with certain Baltic, Central and Eastern European states, the Departments of Energy, Defense, and State have cleared the final texts of the Protocol to Amend and Extend the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania concerning Cooperation in the Area of Prevention of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and the Promotion of Defense and Military Relations (the Protocol),as well as a related Agreed Minute. DOE sent the texts of the Protocol and Agreed Minute, approved for signature, via e-mail to Embassy Vilnius on October 27th. Ambassador Derse is authorized to sign the Protocol and Agreed Minute as soon as the Lithuanian Government is prepared to sign. Any proposed changes to the texts of the Protocol or Agreed Minute by the Lithuanian side should be cleared in Washington prior to signature. -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Department requests that the Embassy schedule a signing ceremony for the Protocol and related Agreed Minute, and that Ambassador sign the Protocol and related Agreed Minute, as soon as possible. If the Lithuanians propose changes to the text, the Ambassador should report back to Washington immediately. Following signature, Embassy should scan and e-mail a pdf of the Protocol and related Agreed Minute to Tom Malionek in L/T and send the original signed and dated Protocol and related agreed minute to the Department for the attention of Tom Malionek, L/T, room 5420. -------------- POINT OF CONTACT -------------- ¶4. (U) The Department thanks Embassy Vilnius for their assistance. Department point of contact for this request is Tom Malionek (202-647-1336, MalionekTV@state.gov). CLINTON