Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02VATICAN1179
2002-03-06 15:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:
BIWEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT FEBRUARY 15-MARCH 1
how-toThis 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 001179
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR (BRADKE) EUR/WE (KILNER, MENNUTI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2007
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EAGR KIRF VT
SUBJECT: BIWEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT FEBRUARY 15-MARCH 1
REF: VATICAN 1152
CLASSIFIED BY: CDA JOSEPH MERANTE, REASON 1.5 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 001179
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR (BRADKE) EUR/WE (KILNER, MENNUTI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2007
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EAGR KIRF VT
SUBJECT: BIWEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT FEBRUARY 15-MARCH 1
REF: VATICAN 1152
CLASSIFIED BY: CDA JOSEPH MERANTE, REASON 1.5 (B,D)
1. (C) THIS CABLE REPORTS ON EMBASSY VATICAN'S BIWEEKLY
ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD FEBRUARY 14-MARCH 1, 2002. IT IS
INTENDED TO SUMMARIZE, BUT NOT EXHAUSTIVELY REPORT, OUR
ACTIVITIES DURING THE PREVIOUS TWO WEEKS. COVERED IN THIS
CABLE ARE:
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 VATICA 01179 061611Z
-- TRI-MISSION BIOTECH IWG
-- SANT'EGIDIO DINNER IHO AMBASSADOR
-- DCM ON TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE
-- SECURITY ISSUES
-- NEW VATICAN ME DIRECTOR
-- CHINA RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
-- CATHOLIC U IN TIRANA?
-- VATICAN POL/MIL INITIATIVE
-- REPORTING: PAPAL ARCHIVES, POTUS CHINA POINTS, VISA
FACILITATION FOR WORLD YOUTH DAY.
2. (SBU) TRI-MISSION BIOTECH IWG: POLOFF AND ASSISTANT
ATTENDED 02/15 TRI-MISSION IWG (EMBASSY ROME, FODAG AND
EMBASSY VATICAN) LED BY EMBASSY ROME AGCOUNS, TO DEVELOP
APPROACH ON AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY ISSUES. EMBASSY
VATICAN WILL LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES (EXPERT SPEAKERS, DVC'S
INVITATIONAL TRAVEL, ETC.) TO CARRY THE USG MESSAGE ON
BIOTECHNOLOGY TO VATICAN DECISION-MAKERS IN COORDINATION WITH
THE OTHER U.S. MISSIONS IN ROME.
3. (C) SANT'EGIDIO DINNER IHO AMBASSADOR: SANT'EGIDIO
FOUNDER ANDREA RICCARDI HOSTED AMBASSADOR AND EMBOFFS TO
RECOGNIZE CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE USG. KEY EMBASSY
INTERLOCUTORS INCLUDED DON VICENZO PAGLIA, BALKANS EXPERT AND
BISHOP OF TERNI, AND AFRICA HAND DON MATTEO ZUPPI. RICCARDI
AND ZUPPI RELATED RECENT AND PAST SANT'EGIDIO INTERACTIONS
WITH FIDEL CASTRO.
(SEPTEL TO FOLLOW)
4. (U) DCM ON TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE: DCM TRAVELED 02/19 TO
FERRARA TO MEET WITH LOCAL CARITAS GROUP WHICH HAD HELD AN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 VATICA 01179 061611Z
ANTI-TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE IN 02/01. GAINED INSIGHTS FOR
SIMILAR CONFERENCE EMBASSY VATICAN IS ORGANIZING FOR MAY.
(REFTEL)
5. (U) DCM HOSTED NEW DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS, THOMAS
COPPOLA, FOR LUNCH. COPPOLA'S PORTFOLIO IS CONSIDERED TO BE
ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE IN THE MINISTRY. AS HAD FM TAURAN,
COPPOLA SERVED AT THE NUNCIATURE IN LEBANON, AND WE SHOULD
THEREFORE EXPECT CONTINUED ACTIVE VATICAN ENGAGEMENT WITH US
IN THE ISSUES OF LEBANON AND SYRIA. (SEPTEL TO FOLLOW)
6. (U) SECURITY ISSUES: PSO ATTENDED ROME EAC AND WORKED
WITH ROME RSO TO MAINTAIN HEIGHTENED SECURITY AT CHANCERY AND
RESIDENCE.
7. (C) CHINA RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: POLOFF MET WITH FIDES CHINA
EXPERT FATHER BERNARDO CERVELLERA AND SEPARATELY TAIWAN
EMBOFF TO DISCUSS VATICAN CONCERNS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN
THE PRC. TAIWAN EMBOFF ADMITTED TAIWAN EMBASSY MAINTAINS
DISCRETE CONTACTS WITH THE CIRCA 25 PRC SEMINARIANS SPONSORED
BY THE VATICAN FOR CLERICAL TRAINING IN ROME (REFTEL).
8. (U) CATHOLIC U IN TIRANA? DCM AND POLOFF WERE TOLD 02/27
BY BALKANS DIRECTOR MARINO THAT THE GOA HAD DONATED, FOR $1,
A LARGE PLOT OF LAND IN ALBANIA OUTSIDE TIRANA FOR THE SITE
OF A NEW CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY. MARINO SAID THE VATICAN
SUPPORTS THIS PROJECT, AND THAT THE NEXT PHASE IS FOR THE
TIRANA DIOCESE TO ORGANIZE AN ENDOWMENT FOR FUNDING
CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS. THE HOLY SEE ITSELF WOULD ONLY
PROVIDE VERY LIMITED RESOURCES IN THAT REGARD. HE INQUIRED
WHETHER PD/ECA HAD ANY PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT UNIVERSITY
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 VATICA 01179 061611Z
DEVELOPMENT IN THE BALKANS OR THE DEVELOPING WORLD.
9. (U) VATICAN POL/MIL INITIATIVE: AMBASSADOR MET WITH
EMBASSY ROME DATTS TO MAP OUT STRATEGY FOR INCREASED VATICAN
EXPOSURE TO CINSCOC. AMBASSADOR PLANS APRIL 10 GATHERING
AROUND PRESENTATION OF U.S. ARTIST'S PAINTING TO POPE, TO PUT
BROAD SAMPLE OF VATICAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS IN CONTACT
WITH CINCSOC AND OTHER U.S. MEDITERRANEAN-BASED MILITARY
OFFICERS.
10. (C) REPORTING: VATICAN 8819: VATICAN PARTIALLY OPENS WW
II PAPAL ARCHIVES; VATICAN 826: FM TAURAN RAISES CHINA POINTS
FOR POTUS' TRIP; VATICAN 1036: VATICAN SEEKS VISA
FACILITATION FOR WORLD YOUTH DAY ATTENDEES. MERANTE
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2002VATICA01179 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR (BRADKE) EUR/WE (KILNER, MENNUTI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2007
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EAGR KIRF VT
SUBJECT: BIWEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT FEBRUARY 15-MARCH 1
REF: VATICAN 1152
CLASSIFIED BY: CDA JOSEPH MERANTE, REASON 1.5 (B,D)
1. (C) THIS CABLE REPORTS ON EMBASSY VATICAN'S BIWEEKLY
ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD FEBRUARY 14-MARCH 1, 2002. IT IS
INTENDED TO SUMMARIZE, BUT NOT EXHAUSTIVELY REPORT, OUR
ACTIVITIES DURING THE PREVIOUS TWO WEEKS. COVERED IN THIS
CABLE ARE:
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 VATICA 01179 061611Z
-- TRI-MISSION BIOTECH IWG
-- SANT'EGIDIO DINNER IHO AMBASSADOR
-- DCM ON TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE
-- SECURITY ISSUES
-- NEW VATICAN ME DIRECTOR
-- CHINA RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
-- CATHOLIC U IN TIRANA?
-- VATICAN POL/MIL INITIATIVE
-- REPORTING: PAPAL ARCHIVES, POTUS CHINA POINTS, VISA
FACILITATION FOR WORLD YOUTH DAY.
2. (SBU) TRI-MISSION BIOTECH IWG: POLOFF AND ASSISTANT
ATTENDED 02/15 TRI-MISSION IWG (EMBASSY ROME, FODAG AND
EMBASSY VATICAN) LED BY EMBASSY ROME AGCOUNS, TO DEVELOP
APPROACH ON AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY ISSUES. EMBASSY
VATICAN WILL LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES (EXPERT SPEAKERS, DVC'S
INVITATIONAL TRAVEL, ETC.) TO CARRY THE USG MESSAGE ON
BIOTECHNOLOGY TO VATICAN DECISION-MAKERS IN COORDINATION WITH
THE OTHER U.S. MISSIONS IN ROME.
3. (C) SANT'EGIDIO DINNER IHO AMBASSADOR: SANT'EGIDIO
FOUNDER ANDREA RICCARDI HOSTED AMBASSADOR AND EMBOFFS TO
RECOGNIZE CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE USG. KEY EMBASSY
INTERLOCUTORS INCLUDED DON VICENZO PAGLIA, BALKANS EXPERT AND
BISHOP OF TERNI, AND AFRICA HAND DON MATTEO ZUPPI. RICCARDI
AND ZUPPI RELATED RECENT AND PAST SANT'EGIDIO INTERACTIONS
WITH FIDEL CASTRO.
(SEPTEL TO FOLLOW)
4. (U) DCM ON TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE: DCM TRAVELED 02/19 TO
FERRARA TO MEET WITH LOCAL CARITAS GROUP WHICH HAD HELD AN
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 VATICA 01179 061611Z
ANTI-TRAFFICKING CONFERENCE IN 02/01. GAINED INSIGHTS FOR
SIMILAR CONFERENCE EMBASSY VATICAN IS ORGANIZING FOR MAY.
(REFTEL)
5. (U) DCM HOSTED NEW DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS, THOMAS
COPPOLA, FOR LUNCH. COPPOLA'S PORTFOLIO IS CONSIDERED TO BE
ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE IN THE MINISTRY. AS HAD FM TAURAN,
COPPOLA SERVED AT THE NUNCIATURE IN LEBANON, AND WE SHOULD
THEREFORE EXPECT CONTINUED ACTIVE VATICAN ENGAGEMENT WITH US
IN THE ISSUES OF LEBANON AND SYRIA. (SEPTEL TO FOLLOW)
6. (U) SECURITY ISSUES: PSO ATTENDED ROME EAC AND WORKED
WITH ROME RSO TO MAINTAIN HEIGHTENED SECURITY AT CHANCERY AND
RESIDENCE.
7. (C) CHINA RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: POLOFF MET WITH FIDES CHINA
EXPERT FATHER BERNARDO CERVELLERA AND SEPARATELY TAIWAN
EMBOFF TO DISCUSS VATICAN CONCERNS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN
THE PRC. TAIWAN EMBOFF ADMITTED TAIWAN EMBASSY MAINTAINS
DISCRETE CONTACTS WITH THE CIRCA 25 PRC SEMINARIANS SPONSORED
BY THE VATICAN FOR CLERICAL TRAINING IN ROME (REFTEL).
8. (U) CATHOLIC U IN TIRANA? DCM AND POLOFF WERE TOLD 02/27
BY BALKANS DIRECTOR MARINO THAT THE GOA HAD DONATED, FOR $1,
A LARGE PLOT OF LAND IN ALBANIA OUTSIDE TIRANA FOR THE SITE
OF A NEW CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY. MARINO SAID THE VATICAN
SUPPORTS THIS PROJECT, AND THAT THE NEXT PHASE IS FOR THE
TIRANA DIOCESE TO ORGANIZE AN ENDOWMENT FOR FUNDING
CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS. THE HOLY SEE ITSELF WOULD ONLY
PROVIDE VERY LIMITED RESOURCES IN THAT REGARD. HE INQUIRED
WHETHER PD/ECA HAD ANY PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT UNIVERSITY
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 VATICA 01179 061611Z
DEVELOPMENT IN THE BALKANS OR THE DEVELOPING WORLD.
9. (U) VATICAN POL/MIL INITIATIVE: AMBASSADOR MET WITH
EMBASSY ROME DATTS TO MAP OUT STRATEGY FOR INCREASED VATICAN
EXPOSURE TO CINSCOC. AMBASSADOR PLANS APRIL 10 GATHERING
AROUND PRESENTATION OF U.S. ARTIST'S PAINTING TO POPE, TO PUT
BROAD SAMPLE OF VATICAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS IN CONTACT
WITH CINCSOC AND OTHER U.S. MEDITERRANEAN-BASED MILITARY
OFFICERS.
10. (C) REPORTING: VATICAN 8819: VATICAN PARTIALLY OPENS WW
II PAPAL ARCHIVES; VATICAN 826: FM TAURAN RAISES CHINA POINTS
FOR POTUS' TRIP; VATICAN 1036: VATICAN SEEKS VISA
FACILITATION FOR WORLD YOUTH DAY ATTENDEES. MERANTE
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2002VATICA01179 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL