US embassy cable - 05VILNIUS372

S E C R E T VILNIUS 000372 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SECRET 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/NB, AND S/CT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/15 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, ASEC, LH, HT29 
SUBJECT: GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM ASSESSMENT: LITHUANIA 
FEEDBACK 
 
REF: A) STATE 060796  B) 04 VILNIUS 15686 
 
(U) Classified by DCM Thomas Kelly.  Reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d). 
 
1. (S) Lithuania has a low terrorism threat, and we are 
working hard with Lithuanian security agencies to keep it 
that way.  There are no known terrorist operational cells, 
logistical cells, or support organizations in Lithuania. 
There are no known incidents of terrorism financing or 
terrorism-related money laundering.  Lithuania has strong 
money laundering laws that include specific reference to 
terrorism financing.  Lithuania participates actively in 
Proliferation Security Initiative exercises to combat 
illicit transfer of WMD between maladies state and non- 
state actors.  We are not aware of any instances in which 
significant terrorist attacks were thwarted here. 
 
2. (U) The United States has provided training to the 
Government of Lithuania to strengthen its ability to fight 
terrorism and to prevent the occurrence of terrorist 
activities in Lithuania.  Post holds Anti-Terrorism 
Assistance (ATA) training for Lithuanian officials.  Twelve 
officials attended ATA "Combating Transnational Terrorism" 
training in November 2003 and sixteen officers attended 
"Police Role in Combating Terrorism" training in November 
2004 at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in 
Budapest, Hungary.  Two Lithuanian Police officers attended 
International Visitor Programs that included terrorism 
issues.  The programs were "Combating International Crime 
Global Cooperation" and "Combating International Crime." 
Post also provided FBI Large Vehicle Bomb Post-Blast 
Investigation training in 2004 for investigators from 
Lithuania and its Baltic neighbors, Latvia and Estonia. 
 
3. (U) Lithuania has received multiple training by the FBI 
and East West Institute on prevention and investigation of 
money laundering.  This training was primarily for criminal 
money laundering but can be applied to terrorism financing. 
Terrorism financing was covered during each of these 
training activities.  The Department of State/Homeland 
Security Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) program 
has provided an extensive amount of training and equipment 
in the fight against WMD proliferation. 
 
4. (U) On December 9, 2004, Post convened a Counter 
Terrorism Action Group (CTAG) meeting (Ref B). 
Representatives from the French, German, Canadian, 
Japanese, Spanish, Italian, British, and Russian Embassies 
attended.  CTAG participants shared the view that the 
terrorism threat in Vilnius is low. 
 
5. (S) Post foresees two challenges for Lithuania. 
Lithuania became a member of the EU in 2004 and is now part 
of the EU external border.  This creates the potential for 
terrorists to try to use Lithuania as an entry point into 
the rest of the EU.  This issue was raised as a concern 
during the CTAG meeting.  During the meeting, France raised 
the possibility that terrorists, using organized crime 
resources in Lithuania, could obtain forged documents that 
could be used to enter and remain in EU countries.  This 
challenge takes on an added dimension because of 
Lithuania's efforts to join the Visa Waiver Program.  The 
second issue is also linked to Lithuania's EU membership. 
EU membership has facilitated Lithuanian emigration to 
better-paying EU economies.  If this trend continues, 
Lithuania may be forced to look to immigrant labor to fill 
vacant jobs.  An increased immigrant population could 
create new and uncertain cultural and political situations 
for Lithuania, with possible ramifications for the level of 
terrorist activity here. 
 
6. (S) There have been numerous reports of organized crime 
production of false identity documents, passports, and 
visas.  Lithuania is striving to combat this from the 
standpoint of illegal migration.  Post recommends increased 
engagement with Lithuania to assist efforts to secure its 
border.  This can be accomplished by training and 
assistance from Diplomatic Security and Consular Affairs on 
ways to maintain a secure travel document system and by 
Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement training and assistance on secure border 
control.  Another important problem to deal with is the 
fight against corruption in Lithuania.  The current level 
of corruption makes it easier for a terrorist to obtain the 
travel documents that would allow him free access to EU 
countries.  Our Mission is working intensively with 
Lithuanian authorities and civil society to reduce the 
level of corruption. 
 
MULL