US embassy cable - 04VILNIUS1350

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VILNIUS 001350 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/NB, EUR/RPM, AND INR/B 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2014 
TAGS: PARM, MOPS, LH, HT12, HT16 
SUBJECT: LITHUANIA: RUSSIAN TEAM COMPLETES UNEVENTFUL VDOC 
INSPECTION 
 
REF: STATE 226131 
 
Classified By: POL/ECON OFFICER TREVOR BOYD 
FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
1. (C) Summary.  A team from the Russian Federation conducted 
a Vienna Document inspection of Lithuanian military 
facilities on October 27-28.  The inspection covered army and 
air force facilities in Kaunas, Panevezys, and Siauliai, 
including NATO's Baltic air policing assets at the Zokniai 
airfield.  The GOL, assisted by a J-6 team from the United 
Kingdom, escorted the Russian team through an uneventful 
inspection.  Reports from the field indicate that the Russian 
team was more than satisfied with all aspects of the 
inspection.  Lithuania's willingness to be open, flexible, 
and transparent, exceeding the requirements of the Vienna 
Document, demonstrated that the GOR could and should utilize 
existing inspection mechanisms to gain confidence in NATO's 
presence in the Baltics.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) The Government of Lithuania, in response to a Vienna 
document request (reftel A), hosted a team of Russian 
Federation (RF) inspectors on October 27-28.  Lithuanian 
military officials, and two officers from the United 
Kingdom's J-6 Division, accompanied the team of four Russian 
military officers as they inspected, by helicopter and car, 
an area that included military installations near the cities 
of Kaunas, Panevezys and Siauliai.  The Russian team 
conducted a complete inspection of NATO's Baltic air policing 
assets, including British F-3 Tornado aircraft, at the 
Zokniai airfield. 
 
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Day One 
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3. (SBU) The RF team, following the itinerary proposed by the 
GOL, entered the inspection area at Rukla, approximately 30 
kilometers north of Kaunas, on the morning of October 27. 
Military installations around Rukla include the Grand Duke 
Algirdas motorized infantry battalion, maneuvering elements 
of the Iron Wolf Brigade, and a conscript training center. 
The GOL provided three briefings to the RF team in Rukla 
before traveling to Kaunas, where the team boarded a 
helicopter and completed an aerial survey of the inspection 
area.  (Note: Though the GOL denied the RF request to use GPS 
equipment, the team was allowed to monitor the helicopter's 
GPS readings during the aerial inspection.)  After the aerial 
inspection, the team had a briefing at Lithuanian Air Force 
Headquarters in Kaunas. 
 
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Day Two 
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4. (SBU) The RF team traveled by car on the morning of 
October 28 to Siauliai and received a briefing at Lithuania's 
First Air Force Base.  The team toured the Zokniai airfield, 
where they met with the leadership of the NATO Detachment, 
and viewed the British F-3 Tornadoes and storage sites.  The 
team visited Panevezys and received a briefing before 
inspecting the King Mindaugas motorized infantry battalion. 
 
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Departure 
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5. (U) The RF team will depart Vilnius on October 29 around 
17:00 local time.  Social events are scheduled during the day. 
 
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Comments from the Field 
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6. (C) We received several updates from the MFA during the RF 
team's visit.  All reports from the field were extremely 
positive, noting that the inspection progressed perfectly as 
planned, with no special surprises or requests from the RF 
team.  Interlocutors said the RF team was "relaxed" and 
"happy" with the inspection. 
 
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Comment 
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7. (C) Lithuania went above and beyond the letter of the 
Vienna Document and repeatedly illustrated its willingness to 
be open, flexible, and transparent during the inspection by 
allowing, for example, the RF team to fully inspect the NATO 
assets and storage sites at the Zokniai airfield.  The GOL 
again demonstrated its commitment to addressing Russian 
concerns about NATO's air policing mission in the Baltics, 
and validated NATO's position that the Russian Federation 
should utilize existing inspection mechanisms to build 
confidence. 
MULL