Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01VATICAN3149
2001-06-12 16:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:
BACKGROUND PAPER FOR PRESIDENTIAL VISIT: MEPP
how-toThis 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 003149
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE)
EMBASSY VATICAN MESSAGE NO. 89/001
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06//12/11
TAGS: PREL PHUM XF VT
SUBJECT: BACKGROUND PAPER FOR PRESIDENTIAL VISIT: MEPP
CLASSIFIED BY CDA JOSEPH MERANTE, REASONS E.O. 12958 1.5
(B),(D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 003149
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE)
EMBASSY VATICAN MESSAGE NO. 89/001
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06//12/11
TAGS: PREL PHUM XF VT
SUBJECT: BACKGROUND PAPER FOR PRESIDENTIAL VISIT: MEPP
CLASSIFIED BY CDA JOSEPH MERANTE, REASONS E.O. 12958 1.5
(B),(D).
1. (C) BELOW IS DRAFT EMBASSY VATICAN BACKGROUND PAPER
FOR POSSIBLE VISIT BY PRESIDENT BUSH TO THE VATICAN.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 VATICA 03149 121501Z
--------------
THE VATICAN AND THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
--------------
2. (C) THE VATICAN'S POSITION ON THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE
PROCESS HAS EVOLVED SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THE LAST THREE
YEARS. FOR MANY YEARS, THE VATICAN CALLED FOR THE
"INTERNATIONALIZATION" OF JERUSALEM, BUT IN THE LATE '90'S
THE POSITION CHANGED TO THE "INTERNATIONALIZATION" OF
JERUSALEM "INTRAMURA" (WITHIN THE WALLS). MOST RECENTLY,
ON THE ISSUE OF JERUSALEM THE VATICAN MOVED SUBSTANTIALLY
IN A DIRECTION WHICH CAN BE SEEN AS CONSTRUCTIVE. IT HAS
DROPPED THE CALL FOR INTERNATIONALIZING ANY PART OF
JERUSALEM AND IS NOW ASKING THAT THE SHRINES OF THE THREE
RELIGIONS PRESERVE THEIR UNIQUE AND SACRED CHARACTER
THROUGH "INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEES", IN SUCH A WAY THAT IN
THE FUTURE "NONE OF THE PARTIES WILL BE ABLE TO CLAIM FOR
ITSELF EXCLUSIVE CONTROL OF THESE SACRED PARTS OF THE
CITY". SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE CITY WOULD BE A MATTER FOR THE
ISRAELIS AND THE PALESTINIANS TO NEGOTIATE.
3. (C) DESPITE A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE STAND ON THE FUTURE OF
JERUSALEM, THE VATICAN'S TILT TOWARD THE PALESTINIAN SIDE
OF THE CONFLICT HAS BEEN MORE EVIDENT IN THE WAKE OF THE
MOST RECENT VIOLENCE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE
EXPLANATIONS TO THE INCREASE IN OVERT SYMPATHY FOR THE
PALESTINIAN CAUSE. IT REFLECTS IN LARGE PART THE VATICAN'S
NEED TO MIND THE INTERESTS OF THE PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS.
ONE OF THE VATICAN'S WORST FEARS IS A JERUSALEM DEVOID OF
CHRISTIANS. THE VATICAN HAS BEEN ALSO TELLING EMBASSY
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 VATICA 03149 121501Z
VATICAN THAT IT BELIEVES IT NEEDS TO SHORE UP YASSIR
ARAFAT, AS IT IS CONCERNED WITH WHAT DIRECTION THE
PALESTINIAN MOVEMENT WILL TAKE AFTER ARAFAT LEAVES THE
SCENE (I.E. ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM). THE PERCEIVED TILT
MAY ALSO REFLECT RESIDUAL ANTI-SEMITIC ATTITUDES THAT STILL
EXIST AMONG SOME WITHIN THE VATICAN. FINALLY, IT COULD
ALSO BE THE RESULT OF POLITICAL MANEUVERING BY PRIME
MINISTER SODANO AS HE ORGANIZES HIS CAMPAIGN FOR THE
PAPACY. A PRO-PALESTINIAN STANCE IS POPULAR AMONG
CARDINALS FROM THE THIRD WORLD.
MERANTE
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2001VATICA03149 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE)
EMBASSY VATICAN MESSAGE NO. 89/001
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06//12/11
TAGS: PREL PHUM XF VT
SUBJECT: BACKGROUND PAPER FOR PRESIDENTIAL VISIT: MEPP
CLASSIFIED BY CDA JOSEPH MERANTE, REASONS E.O. 12958 1.5
(B),(D).
1. (C) BELOW IS DRAFT EMBASSY VATICAN BACKGROUND PAPER
FOR POSSIBLE VISIT BY PRESIDENT BUSH TO THE VATICAN.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 VATICA 03149 121501Z
--------------
THE VATICAN AND THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
--------------
2. (C) THE VATICAN'S POSITION ON THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE
PROCESS HAS EVOLVED SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THE LAST THREE
YEARS. FOR MANY YEARS, THE VATICAN CALLED FOR THE
"INTERNATIONALIZATION" OF JERUSALEM, BUT IN THE LATE '90'S
THE POSITION CHANGED TO THE "INTERNATIONALIZATION" OF
JERUSALEM "INTRAMURA" (WITHIN THE WALLS). MOST RECENTLY,
ON THE ISSUE OF JERUSALEM THE VATICAN MOVED SUBSTANTIALLY
IN A DIRECTION WHICH CAN BE SEEN AS CONSTRUCTIVE. IT HAS
DROPPED THE CALL FOR INTERNATIONALIZING ANY PART OF
JERUSALEM AND IS NOW ASKING THAT THE SHRINES OF THE THREE
RELIGIONS PRESERVE THEIR UNIQUE AND SACRED CHARACTER
THROUGH "INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEES", IN SUCH A WAY THAT IN
THE FUTURE "NONE OF THE PARTIES WILL BE ABLE TO CLAIM FOR
ITSELF EXCLUSIVE CONTROL OF THESE SACRED PARTS OF THE
CITY". SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE CITY WOULD BE A MATTER FOR THE
ISRAELIS AND THE PALESTINIANS TO NEGOTIATE.
3. (C) DESPITE A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE STAND ON THE FUTURE OF
JERUSALEM, THE VATICAN'S TILT TOWARD THE PALESTINIAN SIDE
OF THE CONFLICT HAS BEEN MORE EVIDENT IN THE WAKE OF THE
MOST RECENT VIOLENCE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE
EXPLANATIONS TO THE INCREASE IN OVERT SYMPATHY FOR THE
PALESTINIAN CAUSE. IT REFLECTS IN LARGE PART THE VATICAN'S
NEED TO MIND THE INTERESTS OF THE PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS.
ONE OF THE VATICAN'S WORST FEARS IS A JERUSALEM DEVOID OF
CHRISTIANS. THE VATICAN HAS BEEN ALSO TELLING EMBASSY
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 VATICA 03149 121501Z
VATICAN THAT IT BELIEVES IT NEEDS TO SHORE UP YASSIR
ARAFAT, AS IT IS CONCERNED WITH WHAT DIRECTION THE
PALESTINIAN MOVEMENT WILL TAKE AFTER ARAFAT LEAVES THE
SCENE (I.E. ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM). THE PERCEIVED TILT
MAY ALSO REFLECT RESIDUAL ANTI-SEMITIC ATTITUDES THAT STILL
EXIST AMONG SOME WITHIN THE VATICAN. FINALLY, IT COULD
ALSO BE THE RESULT OF POLITICAL MANEUVERING BY PRIME
MINISTER SODANO AS HE ORGANIZES HIS CAMPAIGN FOR THE
PAPACY. A PRO-PALESTINIAN STANCE IS POPULAR AMONG
CARDINALS FROM THE THIRD WORLD.
MERANTE
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2001VATICA03149 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL