VATICAN PLAYS CHINA GAMBIT. AWAITS CHINA'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 005629

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED TEXT SECTION 2)

BEIJING PASS CHENGDU

DEPARTMENT FOR DRL (FARR); EUR/WE (MENNUTI); EAP/CM
(KOEHLER)

NSC FOR K JARRETT

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 188/01

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/11

TAGS: PREL PGOV KIRF PINR VT CH
SUBJECT: VATICAN PLAYS CHINA GAMBIT. AWAITS CHINA'S
MOVE.


PRESIDENT HAD DELIVERED A STRONG MESSAGE IN SUPPORT OF
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND HAD PRIVATELY ASKED PRC
PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN TO RESUME DIALOGUE WITH THE
VATICAN, CELLI, ESPECIALLY ATTENTIVE, SOLICITED AN
URGENT READ-OUT ON JIANG ZEMIN'S RESPONSE. HE REPEATED
THIS REQUEST AT MEETING'S CLOSE.



7. (C) ACTION REQUEST: EMBASSY REQUESTS GUIDANCE AND
TALKING POINTS IN RESPONSE TO VATICAN APPEAL FOR A
READOUT ON PRESIDENTIAL DISCUSSIONS IN SHANGHAI AND
USG APPRAISAL OF PRC REACTIONS TO THIS PAPAL
INITIATIVE.
NICHOLSON

CONFIDENTIAL

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2001VATICA05629 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL