VZCZCXRO7129
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVL #0209 1000757
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 090757Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY VILNIUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2144
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS VILNIUS 000209 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AMEMBASSY MINSK SENDS 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PINR CASC CVIS BO
SUBJECT: MFA ENCOURAGED BY USG INTEREST IN AMBASSADORS' MEETING 
 
REF: MOORE-BOEHME TELCON 04/08/08 
 
Charge Relays Willingness for Ambassadors' Meeting 
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¶1.  (SBU) Charge relayed April 8 to MFA Americas Directorate Chief 
Vadim Lazerko USG willingness to participate in discussions at the 
level of Ambassadors in Brussels on or after April 10 (ref). 
Lazerko stated that this was "very good news" and an encouraging 
step, and he agreed to be in contact regarding the timing and 
location of the meeting. 
 
Charge Protests Approaches To Diplomatic, Local Staff 
------ -------- ---------- -- ----------- ----- ----- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Charge took the opportunity to express dismay at the 
direct approach to an American diplomat who was offered enticements 
and pressures to work for the Belarusian KGB (BKGB) April 7.  He 
also protested pressure on the Embassy's Belarusian staff, which has 
increased to particularly high levels in recent weeks.  Charge 
stressed that the Embassy had complied in October 2007 with the 
Belarusian request to release to the GOB the names of all LES, and 
emphasized that they are law-abiding citizens of Belarus who do not 
merit this harassment. 
 
MFA Says Score "Three to One" 
--- ---- ----- ------ -- ---- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Although Lazerko said that he was not able to comment on 
the BKGB pressure, he claimed that three Belarusian diplomats have 
now been approached by U.S. intelligence services, including the 
Defense Attache (DATT) in Washington and two "security" attaches in 
Washington and New York.  Lazerko issued his own protest about these 
alleged approaches, claiming that this made "the score three to 
one."  Lazerko noted that the Belarusian protest about these 
approaches had already been raised by Belarusian Charge Kravchenko 
with EUR/UMB Director Boehme.  Lazerko agreed to pass our protest to 
the relevant authorities. 
 
Request for Consular Access, Clarification of Visa Issues 
------- --- -------- ------- ------------- -- ---- ------ 
 
¶4.  (SBU) In addition, Charge reiterated Embassy request for MFA's 
assistance in securing immediate consular access to AMCIT Emanuel 
Zeltser and stressed increasing family and Congressional concern 
over Zeltser's treatment and access to medical care.  Lazerko said 
that he would relay the request to the MFA's Consular Department. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Delivering MFA Spokesman Andrei Popov's visa, issued 
within 24 hours of receipt, Charge reminded Lazerko that the Embassy 
continues processing several categories of visas, including 
diplomats, official travelers and humanitarian cases.  While pleased 
with delivery of Popov's visa, Lazerko likened its issuance to 
merely a drop in the bucket.  He protested issuance of only 
diplomats and urged widening the Embassy's accepted visa applicant 
pool. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Charge expressed disappointment to Lazerko that that the 
Belarusian Embassy in Warsaw has informed several official travelers 
that they had were not permitted by Minsk to issue visas to 
Americans.  Lazerko asked Charge to "take his hint" that because 
issuance of temporary official visas would allow Embassy size to 
grow beyond the mandated 17 at any given time, it would likely not 
be possible.  Charge protested that such a policy was unnecessarily 
restrictive, and requested that such a decision be formalized if it 
is to be enforced.  Lazerko said that he would clarify the issue in 
the near future. 
 
Moore 
Cloud