ASSISTANT SECRETARY GORDON'S MEETING IN CORFU

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 068116

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2019
TAGS: PREL RS LH BO
SUBJECT: ASSISTANT SECRETARY GORDON'S MEETING IN CORFU
WITH LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Classified By: EUR A/S PHILIP H GORDON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. Summary. This cable is for information. On June 28 in
Corfu, in a short discussion with Assistant Secretary Gordon
on the margins of the informal meeting of OSCE Foreign
Ministers, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Usackas expressed
skepticism regarding the near-term prospects for improved
relations with Russia, but emphasized the need to continue
pushing for cooperation in the NATO-Russia Council. Usackas
underscored Lithuania,s strong support for NATO,s open door
policy and called for serious discussion on how to support
NATO aspirants. He also described his perceptions of a
changing political situation in Belarus and asked the United
States to consider increased engagement. Usackas also noted
that the decision on whether to accept two Guantanamo Bay
detainees will have to wait until after the new Lithuanian
President is inaugurated on July 12. End Summary.

Russia
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2. (C) Usackas outlined Lithuania,s current relations with
Russia and asked how the United States assessed the prospects
for a true reset between Russia and the West. He noted as a
positive sign that he had recently met with Foreign Minister
Lavrov, the first time the countries had held a meeting at
the level of Foreign Ministers in roughly two and a half
years. Still, he described the meeting and relations in
general as focused mostly on differences, particularly
Georgia. A/S Gordon outlined President Obama,s broad
approach: we should work hard to develop a better
relationship with Russia, but not at the expense of our
principles or our Allies and partners. That strategy was
exemplified in the case of the UNOMIG mandate, where even
just before the U.S.-Russia Summit, the United States had
supported the effort to force a Russian veto after it was
clear that an agreement would not be reached. While
stressing our desire for a successful summit, A/S Gordon
warned that if we concede across the board, Russia will
simply increase its demands. On NATO-Russia relations,
Usackas highlighted Lithuania,s skepticism for productive
results, but underscored the value in using the NATO-Russia
Council (NRC) to push Russia to be more cooperative. A/S
Gordon agreed, adding that NATO should avoid creating the
perception that we are chasing Russia. Our message should be
that we are prepared to cooperate more closely in a number of
specific areas. But ultimately the results will be
determined by Russia,s willingness to work with us.
Pointing to Lavrov,s intervention at the NRC, A/S Gordon
said there was little evidence so far that the "reset" was
producing a genuinely cooperative response from Moscow.

NATO enlargement
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3. (C) Usackas said a key issue for the Alliance would be how
to support NATO aspirants. He believes we need better
clarity on the criteria for integration, which countries
should be packaged together in the "next wave," and how to
make it saleable to more skeptical Allies and the broader
international community. Recalling that NATO had in previous
rounds of enlargement sought a geographic balance when
offering membership, he wondered whether it made sense to
bring Montenegro and Serbia into the Alliance simultaneously,
perhaps together with Ukraine and Georgia -- although he
noted that on the latter two, we may have to wait longer.
A/S Gordon agreed that Allies needed to have a serious
discussion on these issues, and in turn develop a conceptual
approach regarding the path to membership. Usackas suggested
that a good place to brainstorm would be the informal "Snow
Summit" of like-minded states, to be held outside Vilnius in
early 2010, and said he would greatly welcome A/S Gordon,s
participation.

Belarus
--------------


4. (C) Usackas also used the meeting to share his views on
the current situation in Belarus. Lithuania would continue
to be a strong advocate in helping to build civil society in
Belarus, including through its frequent contacts with the
government in Minsk. Usackas was pleased that the EU has
increased its engagement, and stressed the importance of
continued visits and strong messages. He appealed to A/S
Gordon to increase U.S. contacts with Belarus, in tandem with
civil society leaders and organizations, characterizing the
moment as an important one for Belarus,s future trajectory.
In particular, he recommended that the United States meet
with Head of Presidential Administration Vladimir Makey, whom
Usackas described as "the real No. 2." In a recent meeting,
Makey had told Usackas that Belarus wants to change course
and had asked Usackas to pass that message to the United
States. Makey had outlined a vision for Belarus as a transit
country that balances relations with Russia and the West.

Other Issues
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5. (C) Usackas raised the possibility of Lithuania accepting
two detainees from Guantanamo Bay. He said he understood the
importance of moving forward with a decision, but described
the political difficulty in taking definitive steps before
President-elect Grybauskaite,s inauguration on July 12.


6. (SBU) Noting Lithuania,s upcoming Chairmanship of the
Community of Democracies, Usackas said he would welcome U.S.
suggestions on how to use this organization more effectively.
A/S Gordon said that while this forum can be difficult,
given its size and inclusion of members whose commitment to
democracy is far from clear, the United States believes it
can be valuable. Accordingly, Deputy Steinberg will attend
the Ministerial meeting of the Community of Democracies (CD)
on July 12. A/S Gordon said it would be useful to keep in
touch on this set of issues, particularly once the Assistant
Secretary for democracy issues is in place, and suggested
that an informal Ministerial meeting of the Steering Board on
the margins of UNGA in September could be used to further
discuss the future of the CD.


7. (SBU) At the conclusion of the meeting, Usackas also
indicated an interest in a meeting between President-elect
Grybauskaite and President Obama on the margins of UNGA.
CLINTON