Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
01VATICAN5999
2001-11-21 12:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

VATICAN FM REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENTS WITH

Tags:  PREL RM VT 
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This 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 005999 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (D. MENNUTI); S (C. KELLY)
PLEASE PASS TO NSC

EMBASSY VATICAN MESSAGE NO. 203/01

E.O. 12958:DECL:11/19/11
TAGS: PREL RM VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN FM REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENTS WITH
SECRETARY POWELL AND NSC ADVISOR RICE


SIPDIS

REF A: STATE 194092

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR R.J. NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 1.5
(A) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 005999

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (D. MENNUTI); S (C. KELLY)
PLEASE PASS TO NSC

EMBASSY VATICAN MESSAGE NO. 203/01

E.O. 12958:DECL:11/19/11
TAGS: PREL RM VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN FM REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENTS WITH
SECRETARY POWELL AND NSC ADVISOR RICE


SIPDIS

REF A: STATE 194092

CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR R.J. NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 1.5
(A) AND (D).

1.(C) VATICAN FOREIGN MINISTER JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN CALLED
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 05999 211219Z
AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON IN FOR A MEETING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER

20. THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID HE HAD MET WITH POPE JOHN
PAUL II THE PREVIOUS EVENING, AND THE POPE INSTRUCTED HIM
TO TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. DESPITE
ITS OVERALL SUPPORT FOR THIS CONDUCT OF THE WAR, SO FAR,
THE VATICAN REMAINS CONCERNED WITH BOTH THE CURRENT
SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN, AS WELL AS THE
ISRAELI/PALESTINIAN CONFLICT. THE FOREIGN MINISTER
SPECIFICALLY SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY TO THE
SECRETARY THE VATICAN'S POSITION ON JERUSALEM.

SIPDIS

2.(C) TAURAN PROPOSES FLYING TO WASHINGTON ON SATURDAY,
DECEMBER 1. HE IS REQUESTING APPOINTMENTS WITH THE
SECRETARY AND DR. RICE ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 3 OR TUESDAY

SIPDIS
DECEMBER 4. HE WOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE WEDNESDAY,
DECEMBER 5, BUT WOULD PREFER DECEMBER 3 OR 4 IF POSSIBLE.
IN ADDITION, HE WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET
WITH PRESIDENT BUSH IF THE PRESIDENT'S SCHEDULE WOULD
PERMIT.

3.(C) COMMENT: THE FOREIGN MINISTER RAISED IN A POSITIVE
LIGHT HIS NOVEMBER 5 TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH
SECRETARY POWELL (REF),DURING WHICH THEY DISCUSSED A

SIPDIS
FACE TO FACE MEETING SOON. A FOLLOW-UP MEETING WOULD BE
EXTREMELY USEFUL IN SHORING UP VATICAN SUPPORT FOR THE
U.S. FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM AND DEFLECTING ANY NEGATIVE
BLOWBACK AS WE GO FORWARD. IN ADDITION, EXPLAINING
CURRENT U.S. PROPOSALS FOR A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE IN THE
MIDDLE EAST WOULD BE USEFUL IN ELICITING VATICAN
COOPERATION. NICHOLSON

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 VATICA 05999 211219Z

CONFIDENTIAL

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2001VATICA05999 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL