Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09VILNIUS602
2009-11-10 15:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vilnius
Cable title:
LITHUANIA SUPPORTS DOUBLE ROLLOVER FOR BELARUS
how-toVZCZCXRO4648 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHVL #0602 3141508 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 101508Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY VILNIUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3879 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000602
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM LH BY
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA SUPPORTS DOUBLE ROLLOVER FOR BELARUS
SANCTIONS
REF: SECSTATE 112644
Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief JMFinkbeiner for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
(C) We delivered reftel talking points regarding the EU's
sanction policy for Belarus to MFA's Deputy Director of the
Eastern Neighborhood Department Marijus Gudynas on November
9. Gudynas shared a copy of the EU Draft Council Conclusions
on Belarus dated November 11 (sent via email to EUR/UMB,
EUR/ERA and EUR/NB). The proposal, which was circulated by
the Swedish Presidency, calls for a double rollover of both
the mandate for the sanctions and the suspension of the
sanctions until October 2010. We expressed our support for
the double rollover approach and suggested that the EU would
maintain greater leverage if the expiration dates for the
mandate and for the suspension of sanctions respectively were
staggered. Gudynas said that the Lithuanian Parliament's
Foreign Affairs Committee is in favor of the double rollover
approach but did not specify a preference on the timing of
expiration dates. According to Gudynas this leaves the GOL
"rather flexible" on the issue of timing. He indicated that
the GOL, taking our suggestions into account, would likely
support the UK proposal to stagger the timing of expiration
dates. He revealed that Germany, France and Latvia want to
end the sanctions on Belarus altogether. Gudynas suspects
that the positions of Germany and Latvia are motivated by
business interests in Belarus.
DERSE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM LH BY
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA SUPPORTS DOUBLE ROLLOVER FOR BELARUS
SANCTIONS
REF: SECSTATE 112644
Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief JMFinkbeiner for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
(C) We delivered reftel talking points regarding the EU's
sanction policy for Belarus to MFA's Deputy Director of the
Eastern Neighborhood Department Marijus Gudynas on November
9. Gudynas shared a copy of the EU Draft Council Conclusions
on Belarus dated November 11 (sent via email to EUR/UMB,
EUR/ERA and EUR/NB). The proposal, which was circulated by
the Swedish Presidency, calls for a double rollover of both
the mandate for the sanctions and the suspension of the
sanctions until October 2010. We expressed our support for
the double rollover approach and suggested that the EU would
maintain greater leverage if the expiration dates for the
mandate and for the suspension of sanctions respectively were
staggered. Gudynas said that the Lithuanian Parliament's
Foreign Affairs Committee is in favor of the double rollover
approach but did not specify a preference on the timing of
expiration dates. According to Gudynas this leaves the GOL
"rather flexible" on the issue of timing. He indicated that
the GOL, taking our suggestions into account, would likely
support the UK proposal to stagger the timing of expiration
dates. He revealed that Germany, France and Latvia want to
end the sanctions on Belarus altogether. Gudynas suspects
that the positions of Germany and Latvia are motivated by
business interests in Belarus.
DERSE