US embassy cable - 05VILNIUS90

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VILNIUS 000090 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT EUR/PGI FOR POMAINVILLE AND EUR/NB FOR GERMANO 
COPENHAGEN FOR DANDO 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, SENV, TSPL, KPAO, LH, HT4 
SUBJECT:  Minister of Education and Science Pledges Support in Signin 
Science and Technology Agreement 
 
REF(s): 
 
A. VILNIUS 58 
B. VILNIUS 57 
C. 2004 VILNIUS 1548 
D. 2004 VILNIUS 1546 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1.(SBU) Ambassador Mull met with Minister of Education and Science 
Remigijus Motuzas on January 25th to further U.S.-Lithuania cooperati 
in science and educational exchange.  The Minister pledged support fo 
resolving the last obstacle to resigning the Science and Technology 
Agreement--the refund of Value-added Taxes on USG-funded programs. 
While the Minister is clearly still adapting to his move from the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he did promise continued support for 
promoting the Fulbright program, encouraging U.S.-Lithuania teacher- 
training cooperation through U.S. NGOs (APPLE), and sustaining 
Holocaust education reform.  The Ambassador met with Minister Motuzas 
as part of his tour of Lithuania's new cabinet (reftels). End Summary 
 
S&T Agreement a Priority for the U.S., and the Lithuanians 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
2.(SBU) The Ambassador focused discussion on the renewal of the S&T 
Agreement which has been stalled given the resistance of the Ministry 
of Finance to establish a VAT refund mechanism.  The Minister support 
the Ambassador's statements about the importance of the Agreement and 
promised to personally raise the issue with the Minister of Finance t 
following week.  In the Minister's words, the VAT refund mechanism 
should not be a major obstacle to resigning the Agreement.  The 
Ambassador followed up by noting the great collaboration between the 
National Academy of Sciences and the Lithuanian Science Council in 
innovation policy and promoting changes that will allow Lithuanian 
researchers and businesses to effectively work together. 
 
Fulbright, Study in the U.S., and Educational Cooperation 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
3.(U) The Ambassador also used the meeting to raise the Minister's 
understanding of the breadth of U.S. educational cooperation with 
Lithuania and seek support in promoting Fulbright. As the principal 
exchange program, the Ambassador sought the Ministry's assistance in 
advertising the Fulbright program and identifying the best Lithuanian 
candidates. He further reminded that the U.S. offers great 
opportunities in undergraduate education and that the Embassy plans t 
carryout information sessions in Klaipeda and other cities for 
interested students this year.  The Ambassador also pointed out the 
APPLE program, where for the 15th year approximately 60 American 
schoolteachers and educational specialists will travel to Lithuania t 
provide trainings for several hundred Lithuanian teachers. 
 
4.(U) The Minister voiced appreciation for the Embassy's efforts and 
his assistant noted the special importance of the GLOBE environmental 
education program that Lithuania joined in 2002.  As the 100th countr 
to sign an agreement with the U.S. on GLOBE, Lithuania has linked mor 
than a dozen of its schools to an educational network in the U.S. and 
internationally that makes scientific measurements, exchanges 
information, and shares experience in curriculum development.  The ES 
Hub in Copenhagen supported the program's expansion in Lithuania. 
 
Holocaust Education 
------------------- 
 
5.(U) Ambassador Mull applauded the Ministry's efforts at Holocaust 
education reform over the past several years, in particular drafting 
textbooks that cover the Holocaust in detail.  The Minister noted his 
work experience as Director of the Department of Minorities and the 
significance of Holocaust education.  He further informed that the 
Ministry will increase its responsibility for Holocaust education 
curriculum development with the dissolution of the Foundation for 
Education Change (a non-profit organization funded by Soros). 
 
Comment: Closing the Gap on the S&T Agreement 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
6.(SBU) In returning to the Ministry of Education and Science after a 
10-year break, Minister Motuzas stated his desire to carry over the 
great working relationship the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has with t 
U.S. Embassy.  The first real test of this new relationship will be h 
ability to troubleshoot the S&T Agreement VAT obstacle with the 
Ministry of Finance.  Given his stated commitments and support for th 
S&T Agreement from the Lithuanian Science Council and other GOL 
institutions, we are confident that progress will continue. End 
Comment. 
 
MULL