VATICAN FM REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENTS WITH

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 > 2001VATICA05999 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL