VATICAN PLANNING ACTIVE STRATEGY ON HUMAN RIGHTS.

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 001465

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE)

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 42/01

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/11
TAGS: PHUM VT UNHCR
SUBJECT: VATICAN PLANNING ACTIVE STRATEGY ON HUMAN RIGHTS.


CLASSIFIED BY CDA A.I. JOSEPH MERANTE, REASON E.O. 12958
1.5 (B) AND(D).
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 01465 161145Z

REF: STATE 44405


1. (C) POLOFF DELIVERED REFTEL DEMARCHE TO MSGR. LEO
BOCCARDI, VATICAN MFA DESK OFFICER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ON
MARCH 15. MSGR. BOCCARDI REVIEWED THE POINTS FOR THE 57TH
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS ENTHUSIASTICALLY. HE CLAIMED
NOTABLE CONGRUENCE BETWEEN MANY VATICAN AND USG POSITIONS,
PARTICULARLY ON THE CERD (COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF
ALL FORMS OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION) PROCESS, UNDERLINING
THE RISK OF INFRINGEMENT ON THE JUDICIAL SOVEREIGNTY OF
SIGNATORIES. MSGR. BOCCARDI ENDORSED THE WORLD CONFERENCE
AGAINST RACISM (WCAR) TO BE HELD IN DURBAN, OUTLINING A
PROACTIVE VATICAN STRATEGY IN THE LEAD-UP TO THE
CONFERENCE.


2. (C) VATICAN STRATEGY IN THE RUN-UP TO WCAR WILL FEATURE
PROMINENT PAPAL CONDEMNATIONS OF RACISM. THE VATICAN WCAR
PROGRAM WILL SEEK TO COMBAT RACISM THROUGH A) EDUCATION,
THROUGH WORKSHOPS IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS; B) INCREASED INTER-
RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE; AND C) AN AGGRESSIVE DEFENSE OF
MINORITY GROUPS, WITH THE VATICAN PLEDGING TO PRESSURE
EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS TO SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS OF THE ROMA
MINORITY IN PARTICULAR.


3. (C) MSGR. BOCCARDI CONCURRED WITH USG CONCERN THAT
REGIONAL BLOCS MAY FRUSTRATE CONSENSUS ON CRUCIAL POINTS.
HE REFERRED TO A RECENT PROCLAMATION IN TEHRAN BY MUSLIM
MIDDLE EASTERN GOVERNMENTS THAT PALESTINE WAS BY DEFINITION
A MUSLIM NATION, AN ASSERTION THE VATICAN DEEMED
UNACCEPTABLE. HE WARNED OF A POSSIBLE EFFORT AT THE WCAR
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 VATICA 01465 161145Z
TO PORTRAY PALESTINIAN HARDSHIPS AS RACIST (ANTI-
ARABIC/SEMITIC) IN ORIGIN.


4. (C) MSGR. BOCCARDI WARNED OF POSSIBLE VATICAN CONFLICT
AT DURBAN IF AN EFFORT WERE MADE TO ENSHRINE SEXUAL
ORIENTATION AS GROUNDS FOR DEFINITION OF A RACIAL MINORITY.
MSGR. BOCCARDI DECLARED THE VATICAN COULD ENDORSE LANGUAGE
ABHORRING DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF QUOTE SEX OR
GENDER ENDQUOTE; HOWEVER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION AS SUCH WAS AN
UNACCEPTABLE CATEGORY FOR THE VATICAN. ACCORDING TO MSGR.
BOCCARDI, THIS DEBATE WAS ADVANCED BY THE BRAZILIAN
DELEGATION AT A PREVIOUS CONFERENCE IN SANTIAGO. MSGR.
BOCCARDI WAS CAREFUL NOT TO CRITICIZE USG POSITIONS.
FURTHERMORE, HE VIGOROUSLY CONDEMNED DISCRIMINATION AND
VIOLENCE TOWARD LESBIAN OR GAY PERSONS. MERANTE

CONFIDENTIAL

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2001VATICA01465 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL