US embassy cable - 05VILNIUS912

C O N F I D E N T I A L VILNIUS 000912 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EUR/NB AND CA/VO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2010 
TAGS: CVIS, PREL, XG, LH, HT44 
SUBJECT: EU COMMISIONERS ENCOURAGE LITHUANIA TO IMPOSE VISA 
REGIME ON AMCITS 
 
 
Classified By: CONSUL JAMES FELLOWS FOR REASONS 1.4 B AND D 
 
1. Consul met September 1 with MFA consular division chief 
Vaidotas Verba, who described a new move by the EU to impose 
a visa requirement on Americans. Lithuanian EU 
parliamentarian Justas Paleckis received a letter from EU 
External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and 
Justice, Freedom and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini 
(NOTE: Frattini is currently in Lithuania on an official 
visit), which Paleckis said encouraged new EU member states 
to impose a temporary visa regime in the interest of 
reciprocity. Paleckis did not specify a timeframe for 
implementation or duration. Verba could not specify which 
other parliamentarians might have received this letter. 
Paleckis called Verba September 1 looking for some guidance 
on this issue, which he throught had been put to rest. 
 
2. Verba viewed this development negatively in light of the 
viable Visa Waiver Roadmap Lithuania has worked out with the 
USG. He wondered if this might be some kind of EU posturing 
leading up to consular troika meetings in London this month. 
He expects this development to lead to some internal 
discussion before the MFA can react officially. 
MULL