GAERC: LITHUANIA'S PRIORITIES ARE AFGHANISTAN,

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000552 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN LH SUBJECT: GAERC: LITHUANIA'S PRIORITIES ARE AFGHANISTAN, MOLDOVA Classified By: Acting DCM John M. Finkbeiner for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. The head of MFA's Common Foreign and Security Policy Division, Egidijus Navikas said that Foreign Ministers plan to adopt an EU strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the next GAERC meeting. He shared a draft working paper on Strengthening EU Action in Afghanistan and Pakistan (paper sent to EUR/NB, EUR/ERA). Navikas said that Foreign Minister Usackas will participate in the discussion on Afghanistan and on Moldova. Navikas said that together with Hungarian FM Peter Balazs, Polish FM Radoslaw Sikorski, and Romanian FM Catalin Marian Predoiu, FM Usackas submitted a letter to the European Commission requesting financial assistance for Moldova and urging that the EU's policy towards Moldova be discussed at the October GAERC (letter sent to EUR/NB and EUR/ERA). End summary. -------------- Afghanistan -------------- ¶2. (C) FM Usackas traveled to Afghanistan for the first time October 15-17 together with Ambassador Derse, Greek Ambassador Catsambis and a delegation of GOL officials. Navikas said that FM Usackas will share his impressions of the trip at the GAERC meeting. He said that Usackas will also participate in conversations on the status of Afghan elections and on the EU strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, which the GOL fully supports. Navikas said that the GOL's proposal for more balanced financing for all PRT provinces was added to the strategy document in paragraph 43 as follows: Begin text. "The EU will also put emphasis on ensuring that continued European and international efforts in the area of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) are adequately coordinated with the ANDS and the Afghan government's national programmes. In this respect the EU will actively consider continuing its direct support to the activities of EU PRTs as regards civilian assistance in the provinces." End text. We thanked the GOL for its contributions in Afghanistan including contributions to the EUPOL program and urged them to encourage the EU to fully staff the EUPOL mission to 400 persons. -------------- Western Balkans -------------- ¶3. (C) Navikas said that FM Usackas will speak in favor of financial assistance for Moldova. On October 9 FM Usackas together with Hungarian FM Peter Balazs, Polish FM Radoslaw Sikorski, and Romanian FM Catalin Marian Predoiu sent a letter calling on the European Commission (EC) to provide financial assistance to Moldova. The letter states that the economic situation in Moldova is disastrous and might deteriorate during the rest of 2009. The FMs urged the EC to provide assistance in the coming months as IMF and WB funds are not expected until the end of 2009 or early 2010. Navikas said that the GOL does not expect any conclusions on its request to come out of this GAERC. ¶4. (SBU) Navikas said that the GOL supports the U.S. and the Swedish Presidency on Bosnia's constitutional reform and on the closure of the Office of the High Representative. -------------- Middle East -------------- ¶5. (SBU) We provided an update on the Middle East peace process including President Obama's September 22 meeting and Special Envoy Mitchell's subsequent discussions with his counterparts. We asked for continued EU and bilateral support to urge the leaders of Israel and Palestine to take steps necessary to re-start negotiations and ensure that they succeed. DERSE