Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10VILNIUS42
2010-01-25 14:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vilnius
Cable title:
LITHUANIA IS ON MESSAGE RE TRANSITION TO
how-toVZCZCXRO7154 OO RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL DE RUEHVL #0042 0251458 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 251458Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY VILNIUS TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4082 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0128
C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000042
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/RPM AARON COPE, S/SRAP, AND SCA/A
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/25/2020
TAGS: AF MARR MOPS NATO PREL LH
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA IS ON MESSAGE RE TRANSITION TO
AFGHAN-LED PROVINCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
REF: SECSTATE 4108
Classified By: DCM Damian Leader for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
(C) We delivered reftel talking points to high level
contacts including Defense Minister Rasa Jukneviciene, MFA's
lead on Afghanistan issues Valdamaras Sarapinas and the
President's Foreign Policy Advisor Darius Semaska. Our GOL
contacts agree that transition to Afghan-lead provincial
responsibility is not an exit strategy and should be
implemented gradually on a province-by-province basis.
Sarapinas suggested that Ghor would be an excellent "pilot
province" for transition because of the relatively stable
security situation in the area, especially if the ANA deploys
to Ghor in July / August 2010 as planned. We suggested to
Sarapinas that the GOL should engage in outreach to ensure
that the Lithuanian public does not have unrealistic
expectations for troops to return home in July 2011.
Together with the GOL's Ambassador to the UK Oskaras Juysys,
Sarapinas will participate in further discussions about
transitioning to Afghan-led provincial responsibility at the
London Conference.
DERSE