OFFICIAL-INFORMAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 005577 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI); FOR AF/E LAUREN MORIARTY; FOR AF/SE (VERNON) PLEASE PASS TO SENATOR DANFORTH FROM AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON FROM EMBASSY VATICAN MESSAGE NO. 186/01 E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/11 TAGS: PREL OPDC SU VT AGMT SUBJECT: OFFICIAL-INFORMAL CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR R. JAMES NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 1.5 (A) AND (D). 1.(U) SENATOR, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR APPOINTMENT AS THE PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR PEACE IN SUDAN. THE DIFFICULT SITUATION IN THAT COUNTRY IS ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES FOR THE VATICAN ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 VATICA 05577 262037Z 2.(SBU) BECAUSE OF THE VATICAN'S DEEP INTEREST IN THE CONFLICT IN SUDAN, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO PAY A VISIT DURING YOUR UPCOMING TRAVEL TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH THE VATICAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER ARCHBISHOP TAURAN. THE SUDAN IS AN AREA IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES AND THE VATICAN SHARE MUTUAL CONCERNS AND OBJECTIVESNLS. 3.(C) MY EMBASSY HAS ENGAGED THE VATICAN ON THE SUDAN ISSUE OVER THE LAST YEAR. IN 2000, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN SUDAN WAS A CANDIDATE FOR A UN SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT, EMBASSY VATICAN APPROACHED THE VATICAN FOREIGN MINISTER AND ASKED HIM TO USE THE VATICAN'S INFLUENCE IN CERTAIN COUNTRIES TO DEFEAT THE SUDANESE CANDIDACIES. VATICAN NUNCIOS (AMBASSADORS) IN SEVERAL KEY COUNTRIES MET WITH THEIR HOST COUNTRY FOREIGN MINISTERS AND PRESENTED THE CASE. THE SUDANESE CANDIDACY WAS DEFEATED, AND THE VATICAN PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE. 4.(C) EMBASSY VATICAN HAS ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING CONTACTS AND SOURCES THAT CAN BE USEFUL TO YOUR MISSION. ARCHBISHOP FITZGERALD, THE DIRECTOR OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERELIGIOUS DIALOG AND AN EXPERT ON ISLAM, HAS MAINTAINED CONTACTS WITH ISLAMIC LEADERS IN SUDAN AND IS AN EXPERT ON THE SITUATION. FABRIZIO RICARDI, A LEADER OF THE SANT'EGIDIO COMMUNITY (THE VATICAN NGO WHICH NEGOTIATED THE MOZAMBIQUE PEACE TREATY) HAS BEEN TRAVELLING TO THE SUDAN ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE COMBONI FATHERS, A MAJOR CATHOLIC MISSIONARY ORDER WHICH IS BASED IN ROME AND THE ITALIAN CITY OF PESARO, HAS A LARGE PRESENCE IN SOUTHERN SUDAN. CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 VATICA 05577 262037Z 5.(SBU) IF YOUR SCHEDULE PERMITS, I WOULD RECOMMEND A DISCUSSION WITH THE VATICAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON NEXT STEPS IN THE SUDAN. I WOULD ALSO USE THE OPPORTUNITY OF YOUR VISIT TO INTRODUCE YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO VATICAN AND OTHER OFFICIALS WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR MISSION. ¶6. (SBU) I HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STOP IN VATICAN CITY, I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE HEARING DIRECTLY FROM YOU ON WAYS I CAN BETTER ENGAGE THE VATICAN IN PURSUIT OF YOUR OBJECTIVES. NICHOLSON CONFIDENTIAL > 2001VATICA05577 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL