This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
UNCLAS VATICAN 004075 |
1. THE JULY 27 - AUGUST 03 EDITION OF NEWS AND VIEWS FROM VATICAN CITY. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 VATICA 04075 051244Z CONTENTS: - POPE RECEIVES YASSER ARAFAT - VATICAN RECEIVED NO EXTRADITION REQUEST FOR RWANDAN PRIEST - VATICAN SAYS CHINA RELEASES BISHOP - VATICAN GIVES $1.7 MILLION TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES -------------------------- POPE RECEIVES YASSER ARAFAT -------------------------- 2. POPE JOHN PAUL II RECEIVED PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT, YASSER ARAFAT AUGUST 02 AT THE PAPAL SUMMER RESIDENCE AT CASTEL GANDOLFO. AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT RELEASED BY THE VATICAN AFTER THE MEETING SAID THE TWO LEADERS DISCUSSED THE PRESENT STATE OF THE PEACE PROCESS. ALSO ON THE AGENDA WAS THE CONTINUING VIOLENCE WITH ITS RESULTING VICTIMS. THE STATEMENT SAID THAT THE POPE STRESSED THE NECESSITY OF ENDING ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE AND CONTINUING THE NEGOTIATIONS WHICH, WITH THE HELP OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, WAS THE ONLY HOPE FOR ACHIEVING PEACE. -------------------------- -------------------------- VATICAN HAS RECEIVED NO "JUDICIAL REQUEST" FOR RWANDAN PRIEST ACCUSED OF GENOCIDE -------------------------- -------------------------- 3. VATICAN SPOKESMAN, JOAQUIN NAVARRO-VALLS, ANNOUNCED JULY 27 THAT THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL FOR RWANDA HAD NOT ISSUED A "JUDICIAL REQUEST" TO THE VATICAN OR THE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 VATICA 04075 051244Z ARCHDIOCESE OF FLORENCE TO HAND OVER A RWANDAN PRIEST ACCUSED OF GENOCIDE. COMMENTING ON AN EARLIER DECISION BY ITALIAN AUTHORITIES NOT TO HAND OVER FATHER ATHANASE SEROMBA WHO HAS BEEN WORKING IN A PARISH IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF FLORENCE SINCE 1997, NAVARRO-VALLS OPINED THAT "APPARENTLY" THE COURT'S EXTRADITION REQUEST PROVIDED INADEQUATE EVIDENCE OF WRONGDOING TO JUSTIFY ARRESTING THE PRIEST. NAVARRO-VALLS DID NOT SAY WHETHER THE VATICAN CONSULTED WITH THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT ON THE CASE. (NOTE. IN 1996, POPE JOHN PAUL II APPEALED TO RWANDAN CATHOLICS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE GENOCIDE "TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO ASSUME THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DEEDS COMMITTED AGAINST GOD AND NEIGHBOR." OTHER VATICAN AGENCIES HAVE SAID PREVIOUSLY THAT THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST FATHER SEROMBA SEEMED PART OF A CAMPAIGN TO DISCREDIT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN RWANDA. END NOTE). -------------------------- VATICAN ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF CHINESE BISHOP -------------------------- 4. VATICAN MISSIONARY NEWS AGENCY "FIDES" ANNOUNCED AUGUST 02 THAT AUTHORITIES IN CHINA HAVE RELEASED A CATHOLIC BISHOP THEY ARRESTED 18 MONTHS AGO. THE STATEMENT SAID JOSEPH ZHANG WEIZHU, "UNOFFICIAL" BISHOP OF XINXIANG IN HENAN, WAS ARRESTED WITHOUT CHARGES ON JANUARY 25, 2000 AND RELEASED SOMETIME IN JULY. LOCAL CATHOLICS TOLD FIDES THAT BISHOP ZHANG WAS RELEASED BECAUSE HE SUFFERS SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS. -------------------------- VATICAN GRANTS TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 VATICA 04075 051244Z -------------------------- 5. A FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED BY POPE JOHN PAUL II TO HELP INDIGENOUS AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN POOR RURAL AREAS OF THE CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA HAS APPROVED GRANTS TOTALING SOME US DOLLARS 1.8 MILLION. THE FOUNDATION'S FUNDING COMES MOSTLY FROM THE ITALIAN BISHOPS CONFERENCE. GRANTS FOR 215 PROJECTS IN 19 COUNTRIES WERE APPROVED DURING AN EARLY JULY ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MEETING. IN A STATEMENT RELEASED AUGUST 01, THE VATICAN SAID THAT THESE FOCUSED ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, ARTISANS AND SMALL BUSINESSES, AND EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. MERANTE |