Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02VATICAN1152
2002-03-05 13:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

SANT'EGIDIO THANKS UNCLE SAM AND CHIDES

Tags:  CO CU IT MZ PHUM PREL SOCI VT ZL 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 001152 

SIPDIS

EUR/WE (D.MENNUTI); PD/ECA (SEXTON); INL (ELY-RAPHEL);
DRL/MLA G.FOELLER; WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2012
TAGS: CO CU IT MZ PHUM PREL SOCI VT ZL
SUBJECT: SANT'EGIDIO THANKS UNCLE SAM AND CHIDES
"HYPOCRITE" FIDEL.

REF: REF A: VATICAN 00445 REF B: VATICAN 00700 REF C:
VATICAN 00578.

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON. REASONS 1.5 (B,D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 001152

SIPDIS

EUR/WE (D.MENNUTI); PD/ECA (SEXTON); INL (ELY-RAPHEL);
DRL/MLA G.FOELLER; WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2012
TAGS: CO CU IT MZ PHUM PREL SOCI VT ZL
SUBJECT: SANT'EGIDIO THANKS UNCLE SAM AND CHIDES
"HYPOCRITE" FIDEL.

REF: REF A: VATICAN 00445 REF B: VATICAN 00700 REF C:
VATICAN 00578.

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON. REASONS 1.5 (B,D).


1. (U) ANDREA RICCARDI, FOUNDER OF THE SANT'EGIDIO
COMMUNITY, HOSTED AMBASSADOR AND EMBOFFS 2/19 AT A DINNER IN
RECOGNITION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 01152 051435Z
USG. RICCARDI EXPRESSED GRATITUDE FOR CONTINUING ECA/PD
GRANTS THAT SUPPORT SANT'EGIDIO CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROJECTS
(REF A). HE FURTHER ENDORSED THE MAY 15-16 ANTI-TRAFFICKING
CONFERENCE (REF. B) THE EMBASSY IS PLANNING IN CONCERT WITH
THE HOLY SEE DIPLOMATIC CORPS AND THE VATICAN, AND OFFERED
SANT'EGIDIO ASSISTANCE.


2. (C) SEPARATELY, RICCARDI SPOKE CRITICALLY TO AMBASSADOR
OF HIS 1999 MEETING IN CUBA WITH FIDEL CASTRO, A MARATHON
EVENING COLLOQUY THAT LASTED PAST 3 AM. RICCARDI HAD SHARP
WORDS FOR WHAT HE TERMED CASTRO'S HYPOCRISY, PARTICULARLY ON
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN CUBA. HE DERIDED CASTRO'S AVOWED
PERSONAL OPPOSITION TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT COUPLED WITH HIS
INSISTENCE THAT HE WAS OBLIGATED TO UPHOLD THE LAW OF THE
STATE.


3. (C) DON MATTEO ZUPPI, IN HAVANA THIS JANUARY TO
PARTICIPATE IN AN OFF-SITE FARC-COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT ENCOUNTER
(REF C),REMARKED TO EMBOFFS THAT CASTRO HAD PULLED HIM
ASIDE AND UPBRAIDED THE SANT'EGIDIO COMMUNITY AND ZUPPI
PERSONALLY FOR THE NGO'S RELUCTANCE TO COLLABORATE WITH
HAVANA IN 1999. ACCORDING TO ZUPPI, CASTRO HAD SOUGHT TO
EXPLOIT SANT'EGIDIO IN THE CONTEXT OF THE 1999 KOSOVO
CONFLICT BY DEPLOYING 1,000 PURPORTED HUMANITARIAN WORKERS TO
KOSOVO AND YUGOSLAVIA UNDER THE AUSPICES OF SANT'EGIDIO.


4. (U) IN ASIDE TO DCM, DON MATTEO ZUPPI REQUESTED SUPPORT
FOR SANT'EGIDIO'S PROPOSED $5 MILLION HIV/AIDS PROJECT IN
MOZAMBIQUE. SANT'EGIDIO HAS FORWARDED A PROPOSAL TO THE
GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT HIV/AIDS. ZUPPI IS SEEKING GENERAL
EXPRESSIONS OF USG SUPPORT TO THE GLOBAL FUND'S DIRECTORS.
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 VATICA 01152 051435Z
NOTE: WHILE POST CANNOT SPEAK TO PROJECT'S TECHNICAL MERITS,
SANT'EGIDIO HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD IN HUMANITARIAN AND
CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROJECTS.
NICHOLSON

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002VATICA01152 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL