VATICAN - "VIEWS FROM THE HILL"

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 001744

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE),EUR/PD/PA, DRL/IRF

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 51/01

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR SOCI BU IT PHUM PINR SOCI BU IT VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: VATICAN - "VIEWS FROM THE HILL"



1. THE MARCH 24 - 30 EDITION OF NEWS AND VIEWS FROM
VATICAN CITY.

CONTENTS:

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 VATICA 01744 01 OF 02 301041Z
- VATICAN CALLS FOR UN TO MONITOR BIOTECHNOLOGY
- DRUG INJECTION ROOMS JUDGED "UNETHICAL" BY VATICAN
- POPE STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF FIGHT AGAINST MAFIA
- SPOKESMAN SAYS POPE IN GOOD SHAPE FOR AN OCTOGENARIAN
- PAPAL TRAVEL PLANS FOR BULGARIA

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VATICAN SEEKS UN ROLE IN BIOTECH MONITORING
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2. THE VATICAN'S PERMANENT OBSERVER TO UN FOOD AGENCIES,
ARCHBISHOP AGOSTINO MARCHETTO, OPINED THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL
AND HUMAN HEALTH RISKS OF BIO-ENGINEERED FOOD DEMAND
STRONGER INTERNATIONAL NORMS AND CONTROLS. THE
REPRESENTATIVE SAID THE UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL
ORGANIZATION SHOULD CONSIDER TAKING A LEAD ROLE, ESPECIALLY
IN EDUCATION AND PREVENTATIVE MEASURES. ACCORDING TO
ARCHBISHOP MARCHETTO, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES RAISED
BY GENETICALLY ALTERED FOODS HAVE A GLOBAL IMPACT AND THUS
REQUIRE INTERNATIONALLY GUARANTEED STANDARDS. HE SAID THE
FAO SHOULD ACTIVELY PURSUE "BIOSECURITY" QUESTIONS, DRAWING
ON ITS POSITION AS A CENTRALIZED AGENCY OF INFORMATION AND
RESEARCH ON AGRICULTURAL ISSUES. THE ARCHBISHOP SAID THIS
WOULD ALLOW THE ORGANIZATION TO CONTINUE TO HELP MEMBER
STATES ENACT CONTROL PROCEDURES FOR THE FOOD PRODUCTION
PHASE AND AS WELL AS WAYS TO COMBAT EMERGENCIES.

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VATICAN SAYS DRUG INJECTION ROOMS "UNETHICAL"
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PAGE 03 VATICA 01744 01 OF 02 301041Z

3. THE VATICAN'S PERMANENT OBSERVER THE UN AGENCIES IN
VIENNA, AUSTRIA, MONSIGNOR DOMINIQUE REZEAU, HAS DESCRIBED
DRUG INJECTION ROOMS WHERE ADDICTS CAN SHOOT UP UNDER
MEDICAL SUPERVISION AS "UNETHICAL AND MISGUIDED." REZEAU
SAID GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS SHOULD FOCUS INSTEAD ON ADDICTS'
REHABILITATION AND REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY. HE SAID DRUG
DEPENDENCY WAS NOT A RIGHT OR A FREEDOM BECAUSE IT DAMAGED
THE ADDICT AND WAS A SELF-RENUNCIATION OF PERSONAL DIGNITY.
REZEAU SAID COUNTRIES IN FAVOR OF THE INJECTION ROOMS
POINTED TO REDUCTIONS IN OVERDOSE DEATHS, INFECTIONS AND
DISEASE TRANSMISSION AS BENEFITS OF THE INJECTING ROOM
PROGRAM. HE RETORTED THAT SUCH PROGRAMS HAD DISADVANTAGES
INCLUDING A NEGLIGIBLE DESIRE FOR SOCIAL REINTEGRATION.
MONSIGNOR REZEAU SAID DRUG REHABILITATION PROGRAMS EQUALLY
REDUCE INSTANCES OF OVERDOSE AND INFECTION, WHILE AT THE
SAME TIME HELPING ADDICTS TO RECOVER THEIR PLACE IN SOCIETY.

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POPE ISSUES CHALLENGE TO SICILIAN MAFIA
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4. IN A MESSAGE TO SICILY'S BISHOPS, POPE JOHN PAUL II
STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FIGHT AGAINST THE MAFIA. HE
SAID SICILY COULD ONLY DEVELOP ITS FULL POTENTIAL IF THE MOB
WERE DEFEATED. THE PONTIFF DESCRIBED THE MAFIA AS THE WORST
OF SICILY'S EVILS.

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VATICAN SPOKESMAN SAYS POPE IS "YOUNG FOR HIS AGE"
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PAGE 04 VATICA 01744 01 OF 02 301041Z

5. VATICAN SPOKESMAN, JOAQUIN NAVARRO-VALLS, CLAIMED MARCH
26 THAT POPE JOHN PAUL II REMAINS "YOUNG FOR HIS AGE" IN
SPIRIT AND ENTHUSIASM AND THAT IN THE 22 YEARS OF HIS PAPACY
HE HAS NEVER GIVEN UP ON A SINGLE THING HE SET OUT TO DO
BECAUSE OF HEALTH REASONS. (NOTE: NAVARRO-VALLS IS OVER-
ENTHUSIASTIC IN HIS APPRAISAL OF THE PAPAL CONSTITUTION. THE
POPE'S SCHEDULE HAS IN FACT BEEN ALTERED ON MORE THAN ONE
OCCASION TO ACCOMMODATE HIS ILLNESS. HE ALMOST COLLAPSED
DURING ONE EVENT BECAUSE OF A STOMACH VIRUS AND HAD TO BE
HELPED BACK INTO HIS APARTMENT. END NOTE). NAVARRO-VALLS
CLAIMED THE POPE HAS THE PHYSICAL CAPACITY FOR THE WORK HE
IS DOING. THE COMMENTS CAME AHEAD OF THE PONTIFF'S UP-COMING
PILGRIMAGE TO SYRIA, GREECE AND MALTA. RECENT VISITORS TO
VATICAN CITY, INCLUDING AN AMCIT KOREAN BISHOP, HAVE
DESCRIBED THE POPE AS HAVING GOOD AND BAD DAYS.

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PAPAL TRAVEL PLANS FOR BULGARIA
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6. VATICAN-BASED NEWS AGENCIES REPORT THE VATICAN IS
STUDYING THE POSSIBILITY OF A PAPAL TRIP TO BULGARIA IN

2002. THE PRESIDENT OF THE BULGARIAN BISHOPS CONFERENCE
CONFIRMED THE REPORT. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS IN ROME, BISHOP

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6356

PAGE 01 VATICA 01744 02 OF 02 301041Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00 DOTE-00
DS-00 EB-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00
INR-00 VCE-00 DCP-01 NSAE-00 SS-00 TEST-00 SNIS-00
NISC-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 SAS-00 /003W
-------------- D9475E 301109Z /38
R 301046Z MAR 01
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 001744

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE),EUR/PD/PA, DRL/IRF

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 51/01

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR SOCI BU IT PHUM PINR SOCI BU IT VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: VATICAN - "VIEWS FROM THE HILL"

CHRISTO PROYKOV STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF A PAPAL VISIT TO
PREDOMINANTLY ORTHODOX BULGARIA. IF THE TRIP GOES AHEAD IT
WOULD BE THE FIFTH TRIP FOR POPE JOHN PAUL II TO AN ORTHODOX
COUNTRY AFTER ROMANIA AND HIS UPCOMING VISITS TO GREECE,
UKRAINE AND ARMENIA. BISHOP PROYKOV SAID THE LEADER OF
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PAGE 02 VATICA 01744 02 OF 02 301041Z
BULGARIA'S ORTHODOX CHURCH, PATRIARCH MAXIM, HAD AGREED TO
MEET WITH THE POPE IF HE CAME, BUT ALSO THAT HE WOULD BE
FOLLOWING CAREFULLY THE RESULTS OF THE POPE'S VISIT TO
GREECE IN MAY. (COMMENT: WITH NEWS AGENCIES ALSO REPORTING A
POSSIBLE PAPAL VISIT TO CYPRUS, THE POPE'S OUTREACH TO THE
ORTHODOX CHURCH APPEARS TO BE GAINING MOMENTUM. IT IS NO
SECRET THAT POPE JOHN PAUL WOULD CONSIDER THE HEALING OF THE

SIPDIS
TEN-CENTURY RIFT WITH ORTHODOXY AS THE PINNACLE OF HIS
PAPACY. END COMMENT). MERANTE

UNCLASSIFIED

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2001VATICA01744 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED