LITHUANIA FOCUSED ON WESTERN BALKANS, EAP PLANNING

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000656 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN LH SUBJECT: LITHUANIA FOCUSED ON WESTERN BALKANS, EAP PLANNING AT FAC Classified By: DCM Damian R. Leader for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) We spoke with head of MFA's Common Foreign and Security Policy Division, Egidijus Navikas on December 4. He said that Lithuania will be focused on the Western Balkans during the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting. Navikas expects that Ministers will reach an agreement on transforming the ALTHEA mission in Bosnia from a military operation to an advisory operation. He elaborated that the GOL wants the operation to remain a Berlin plus collaboration between the EU and NATO. Navikas said that the GOL supports EU expansion but noted that aspirant states are proceeding at their own pace. He expressed hope that Croatia will finalize its accession agreements next year. Navikas confirmed that the GOL supports Macedonia's EU aspirations but underscored that the bilateral dispute with Greece is a problem. We urged the GOL not to allow bilateral disputes to block the integration process. Navikas said that the EU needs to send positive signals with regards to Serbia. He noted that the Dutch are concerned about Serbia's lack of cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. The GOL looks forward to further discussions with Iceland next year on EU integration. ¶2. (C) Navikas said that the FAC discussion on Iran will likely focus on sanctions. He confirmed that the GOL will support additional sanctions on Iran. Navikas elaborated that ideally, the UNSC would resolve to apply additional sanctions. However, the GOL would also support autonomous sanctions through the EU. On the Middle East Peace Process, Navikas said that Council conclusions are still being finalized. He noted that there are disagreements on wording such as whether to say that the EU "welcomes" Israel 's suspension of settlements or that the EU "takes positive note of" Israel's suspension of settlements. Navikas said that the FAC will likely use "State of Palestine" when speaking in the future tense and "Palestinian Authority" when speaking in the present tense. ¶3. (C) Navikas said that the FAC will also formalize the decision to prepare mandates for future association agreements with Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. On the margins of the council meetings, EU and Eastern Partnership (EAP) Ministers will hold their first annual Ministerial meeting since the founding of the EAP last Spring. During the meeting the Ministers will take stock of EAP accomplishments to date. Navikas said the GOL will stress that EAP participants should begin to implement concrete projects. The GOL will push for association agreements, free trade agreements and visa facilitation agreements for EAP participating countries that do not already have one. The GOL will also push for visa free travel with Ukraine and Moldova who already have visa facilitation agreements in place. EAP participants will also discuss cultural projects. DERSE