(U) Deputy Secretary Steinberg's February 12,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 018882 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2029 TAGS: MARR PREL PINS PGOV NATO ENRG AF RS GG UP LH, IR SUBJECT: (U) Deputy Secretary Steinberg's February 12, 2009 Conversation with Lithuanian Minister of Defense Rasa Jukneviciene ¶1. (U) Classified by EUR Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶2. (U) February 12, 2009, 8:20 - 8:40, Washington, D.C. ¶3. (U) Participants: U.S. Deputy Secretary James Steinberg EUR/DAS Judith Garber Special Assistant Mary Sue Conaway Carol Beilman Werner (EUR/NB Notetaker) Lithuania Minister of Defense Rasa Jukneviciene MOD Secretary of the Ministry Andrius Krivas DCM Tomas Gulbinas Defense Attache Colonel Antanas Jurgaitis ¶4. (C) SUMMARY. Deputy Secretary Steinberg's February 12 meeting with Lithuanian Minister of Defense Rasa Jukneviciene highlighted energy security, Afghanistan and Russia. The Minister noted the importance of energy security to Lithuania, advocating that a NATO Center of Excellence for Energy Security be opened in Vilnius. She also reported that Lithuania planned to increase its contributions to Afghanistan. Jukneviciene and Deputy Secretary Steinberg agreed that it was essential to explain to the European public the role that EU deployments to Afghanistan played in fighting terrorism in Europe. The Minister emphasized Lithuania's concerns about Russia and desire for NATO contingency planning for the Baltic states. Deputy Secretary Steinberg also expressd appreciation for Lithuania's conditional decision to accept Guantanamo detainees and acknowledged Jukneviciene's request for a meeting with Secretary Clinton for the Lithuanian Foreign Minister. END SUMMARY. -------------- Energy Security -------------- ¶5. (C) Jukneviciene raised energy security, noting that its importance to Lithuania had spurred the Government (GOL) to create a separate Ministry of Energy. The GOL wants NATO to establish a Center of Excellence for Energy Security in Vilnius and was willing to open the center itself in the hope that NATO could later take it over. -------------- Afghanistan -------------- ¶6. (C) In spite of Lithuania's financial difficulties, Jukneviciene assured Deputy Secretary Steinberg that Lithuania still planned to increase its contributions to Afghanistan by enlarging the number of troops in its PRT in Ghor Province, and in its SOF squadron in Kandahar. She added, however, that many in the Lithuanian public questioned the value of Lithuania's participation in the war in Afghanistan. Deputy Secretary Steinberg responded that it was very important during and after the upcoming NATO Summit to reach out to NATO publics to explain how critical the war in Afghanistan is to Europe and U.S. security. -------------- Russia -------------- ¶7. (C) Jukneviciene asserted that Russia still posed a significant threat and that NATO contingency planning for the Baltic states would reassure Lithuanians of NATO's ability to defend the region. She added that Lithuania would continue to fight for NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia. Deputy Secretary Steinberg acknowledged Lithuania's historical experience with Russia, but explained that it was necessary to find the right balance between NATO preparedness and antagonizing Russia. ¶8. (C) When Jukneviciene asked about missile defense plans for Europe, Deputy Secretary Steinberg reminded her that missile defense is intended to deal with emerging proliferation threats, particularly Iran. If Iran changes course and gives up its nuclear weapons program, that would address immediate concerns, and we would need to STATE 00018882 002 OF 002 -------------- Guantanamo Detainees -------------- ¶9. (C) Deputy Secretary Steinberg expressed appreciation for Lithuania's willingness to accept detainees from Guantanamo, noting that since the EU wanted Guantanamo closed, EU countries should share the burden of resettling detainees. CLINTON