USG/VATICAN PROJECTS FOR POTUS POPE MEETING

UNCLAS VATICAN 003552 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (KILNER); PD/ECA (SEXTON) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL PHUM PGOV VT SUBJECT: USG/VATICAN PROJECTS FOR POTUS POPE MEETING REF: MERANTE/KILNER TELCON 7/3 ¶1. (U) THIS IS A RESPONSE TO REFTELCON REQUEST FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE USG'S AND EMBASSY VATICAN'S TRACK RECORD UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 VATICA 03552 051341Z OF SUPPORT FOR VATICAN-BACKED PROJECTS WITH THE COMMUNITY OF SANT'EGIDIO AND CARITAS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRESIDENT MAY WISH TO MENTION SOMETHING GENERAL ABOUT OUR SUPPORT FOR SUCH WORK AND OUR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE FURTHER ON JOINT PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE. POST OFFERS THIS TO DEPARTMENT POSSIBLY TO PROVIDE THE NSC AS A COMPENDIUM OF PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN WITH U.S. SUPPORT IN RECENT YEARS, AND PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION. ¶2. (U) PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN WITH THE COMMUNITY OF SANT'EGIDIO: -- USD 43,000 FOR MOZAMBIQUE YOUTH CONFERENCE IN 2001 -- USD 60,000 FOR KOSOVO INTER-COMMUNAL EDUCATION PROJECT IN 2001 -- USD 5,000 FOR BOSNIA INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE IN 2001 IN ADDITION THE USG HAS OFFERED DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT FOR MEDIATION ROLE TAKEN BY SANT'EGIDIO'S DON MATTEO ZUPPI IN CONGO/BURUNDI CONFLICT MEDIATION (ONGOING SINCE 1996) AS WELL AS SUPPORTING THE SUCCESSFUL SANT-EGIDIO SPONSORED MEDIATION OF THE END OF THE MOZAMBIQUE CIVIL WAR IN 1992. ¶3. (U) PROJECTS PROPOSED/PROPOSED FOR COLLABORATION WITH THE VATICAN ASSISTANCE ARM CARITAS: -- USD 60,000 FOR "SLAVES NEVER AGAIN," ALBANIA ANTI- TRAFFICKING PROJECT IN CONJUNCTION WITH CARITAS/BRINDISI 2001-2002 -- USD 38,000 FOR ANTI-TRAFFICKING ASPECTS OF "CITY OF CHARITY POPE JOHN PAUL II," PROJECT IN CONJUNCTION WITH CARITAS/PESCARA AND ARCHBISHOP CUCCURESE OF PESCARA, 2001- ¶2002. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 VATICA 03552 051341Z ¶4. (SBU) THE TWO PROJECTS MENTIONS IN PARA THREE COULD BE FINALIZED BY THE TIME OF THE PRESIDENTS VISIT AND COULD BE ANNOUNCED AS NEW INITIATIVES. ¶5. (SBU) EMBASSY VATICAN IS PROACTIVE IN SEEKING NEW AREAS FOR COLLABORATION WITH THE VATICAN AND ITS RELATED BODIES. WE NOTE THAT ALL OF THE ABOVE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN OR ARE CONTEMPLATED TO BE FUNDED BY PD/ECA. IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO TAP IN SOME WAY THE USD 200 MILLION COMMITMENT TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS IN AFRICA, POST STRONGLY RECOMMENDS ANNOUNCING A COMMITMENT TO MAKE A USD 200,000 CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS A USD 5 MILLION ANTI-AIDS PROJECT DEVELOPED AND SPONSORED BY SANT'EGIDIO IN MOZAMBIQUE. (NOTE: WE ARE EXPECTING A ONE- PAGE SYNOPSIS OF THIS PROJECT FROM SANT'EGIDIO TODAY, 7/5. WE WILL FAX/EMAIL IT TO EUR/WE AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE IT.) MERANTE UNCLASSIFIED > 2001VATICA03552 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED