Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01VATICAN2748
2001-05-18 12:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY TO VISIT VATICAN?

Tags:  PREL PGOV BK VT 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 002748 

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR: EUR (SWIGERT); EUR/BI (BEECROFT); EUR/WE
(VANCLEVE); EUR/SCE (WEXEL)
EMBASSY SARAJEVO FOR SENECA JOHNSON

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 73/001

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/11

TAGS: PREL PGOV BK VT
SUBJECT: BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY TO VISIT VATICAN?

REF: A) VATICAN 2282 B) GFROWICK/SJOHNSON EMAILS 4/6-5/9

CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE JOSEPH MERANTE, REASONS E.O. 12958
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 02748 181319Z

(B),(D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 002748

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR: EUR (SWIGERT); EUR/BI (BEECROFT); EUR/WE
(VANCLEVE); EUR/SCE (WEXEL)
EMBASSY SARAJEVO FOR SENECA JOHNSON

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 73/001

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/11

TAGS: PREL PGOV BK VT
SUBJECT: BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY TO VISIT VATICAN?

REF: A) VATICAN 2282 B) GFROWICK/SJOHNSON EMAILS 4/6-5/9

CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE JOSEPH MERANTE, REASONS E.O. 12958
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 02748 181319Z

(B),(D).


1. (C) AS PART OF OUR EFFORT TO PROMOTE GREATER
INTERNATIONAL VISIBILITY FOR BOSNIA'S CROAT MODERATE
POLITICIANS (REF A),POST HAS TRIED TO CONFIRM THAT THE
HOLY SEE WILL RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE REQUEST BY
FEDERATION OFFICIALS FOR AN INVITATION TO VISIT THE VATICAN
(REF B). AS YET, WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PIN DOWN OUR
INTERLOCUTORS IN THE SECOND SECRETARIAT (MFA) ON WHETHER OR
WHEN AN INVITATION WILL BE FORTHCOMING. WE HAVE
NEVERTHELESS ASSURED THEM WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE A GOOD
IDEA TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE REQUEST. IN RESPONSE TO
POLOFF'S QUERY 5/14, DFM MIGLIORE SAID THAT HE DID NOT KNOW
FOR CERTAIN IF A VISIT BY FEDERATION OFFICIALS WAS IN THE
WORKS, BUT THAT HE HAD HEARD A RUMOR ABOUT SOME BOSNIANS
VISITING. HE THOUGHT THE VATICAN WOULD WANT TO GO SLOWLY,
SINCE THEY WERE NOT SURE OF THE SITUATION IN HERZEGOVINA
AND WOULDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THINGS WORSE.

2. (C) VATICAN BALKANS DIRECTOR JOSEPH MARINO TOLD POLOFF
5/16 THAT HADN'T HEARD ABOUT ANY INVITATION TARGETED AT
CROAT MODERATES, BUT HE SHARED WITH CHARGE LATER 5/16 THAT
BOSNIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE HOLY SEE KRALJEVIC (A CROAT
CATHOLIC) HAD INDICATED HE WAS WORKING ON A PROPOSAL FOR A
VISIT BY THE BOSNIAN JOINT PRESIDENCY.


3. (C) COMMENT: FROM WHERE WE SIT AN INVITATION TO THE
JOINT PRESIDENCY LOOKS ONLY SLIGHTLY LESS DESIRABLE THAN
THE MORE CROAT-HEAVY LINEUP FROM A FEDERATION DELEGATION AS
DISCUSSED REF B. WE DEFER TO DEPARTMENT AND EMBASSY
SARAJEVO, HOWEVER, AS TO HOW TO PLAY IT. WE WILL, IN THE
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 VATICA 02748 181319Z
MEANTIME, CONTINUE TO SEEK CLARIFICATION OF THE STATUS OF
THE INVITATION. END COMMENT.
MERANTE

CONFIDENTIAL

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2001VATICA02748 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL