LITHUANIA WELCOMES U.S. ENGAGEMENT IN DURBAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000099 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2019 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC LH SUBJECT: LITHUANIA WELCOMES U.S. ENGAGEMENT IN DURBAN REVIEW NEGOTIATIONS REF: SECSTATE 14201 Classified By: Ambassador John A. Cloud for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) We delivered reftel information on February 18 to Rita Kazragiene, Head of the UN and Global Policy Division at the MFA. She said the Lithuanian mission in Geneva had reported that the U.S. engagement in the Durban Review had already "made a difference, giving strength to other Western countries" to push for changes and an acceptable outcome document and prompting a decrease in the number of points raised by Asian and African countries "to challenge values we cherish." She nodded affirmatively while listening to reftel points and said, "What you're saying is acceptable to us." ¶2. (C) Kazragiene said Lithuania hoped the United States would find a way to continue to participate in the Durban negotiations, including the Review Conference in April. "Your simple presence would be helpful," she said. CLOUD