US embassy cable - 04VILNIUS1449

UNCLAS VILNIUS 001449 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, UK, LH, HT13 
SUBJECT: ADAMKUS JOINS UKRAINE MEDIATION EFFORT 
 
REF: WARSAW 4981 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1.  (U) Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus traveled to Kiev 
November 26 to join Polish President Kwasniewski's mediation 
efforts as domestic political pressure for Lithuanian 
engagement continued to mount.  Though the scope and 
direction of Adamkus's involvement remain unclear, his strong 
democratic credentials should have a positive impact.  End 
summary. 
 
Adamkus to Kiev 
--------------- 
 
2.  (U) Adamkus traveled to Kiev on November 26 to join 
European mediation efforts to broker an end to the Ukrainian 
political crisis.  According to Adamkus's senior foreign 
policy adviser Edminas Bagdonas, Ukrainian President Kuchma 
had telephoned Adamkus early on November 25 to invite him to 
join with Polish President Kwasniewski's efforts.  Bagdonas 
told the Ambassador that Adamkus was reluctant to insert 
himself in the process, but after Kwasniewski encouraged him 
in a phone call late on November 25, Adamkus had decided to 
join the Kwasniewski mission. 
 
3.  (U) Adamkus advisers tell us it is still unclear how the 
Kwasniewski/Adamkus mission will fit with that of EU foreign 
policy chief Solana, but expressed certainty the two would 
work in tandem.  Foreign Minister Valionis publicly praised 
the initiative November 25 as an important opportunity to 
demonstrate Lithuania's leading role in the EU's regional 
politics, but noted it included a significant risk of 
failure. 
 
Protest to Ukrainians 
--------------------- 
 
4.  (U) Separately, Valionis summoned the Ukrainian 
Ambassador in Vilnius November 24 and telephoned Ukrainian 
foreign minister Gryshchenko November 25 to protest reported 
Ukrainian plans to publish fraudulent election results as 
final.  Valionis said Lithuania had been engaging in "quiet 
but active" diplomacy to promote a resolution. 
 
Pressure for Greater Activism 
----------------------------- 
 
5. (U) Valionis's engagement followed mounting popular 
pressure for greater official Lithuanian activism on Ukraine 
since the November 21 elections.  Lithuania's leading daily 
"Lietuvos Rytas" on November 26 sharply criticized what it 
said was the government's lackluster response to the crisis, 
and several political parties announced their support for 
efforts to press Ukrainian authorities to investigate the 
numerous cases of voter fraud.  Despite the criticism, and 
Adamkus's and Valionis's engagement, newly-reconfirmed Prime 
Minister Brazauskas on November 25 publicly rebuffed calls 
for a greater Lithuanian role in the crisis, asserting that 
Lithuania should not involve itself in the internal affairs 
of other states. 
 
Comment: Seizing the Spotlight 
------------------------------ 
 
6. (U) Lithuania prides itself as a small, but energetic 
activist in supporting democracy in its troubled neighbors to 
the east and south, so it is not surprising that Adamkus 
would jump aboard this train without a very clear idea of 
where it is heading.  Despite the mission's unclear 
prospects, Adamkus's solid democratic credentials should be 
an asset in efforts to resolve the crisis in accordance with 
democratic standards. 
MULL