Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02VATICAN126
2002-01-09 15:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

MORE FROM ZUPPI ON UNITA CEASEFIRE

Tags:  PREL MOPS AN VT 
pdf how-to read a cable
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 000126 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI); AF/S

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2007
TAGS: PREL MOPS AN VT
SUBJECT: MORE FROM ZUPPI ON UNITA CEASEFIRE

REF: A) 01 VATICAN 4030 B) VATICAN 0057

CLASSIFIED BY: POLOFF GEORGE FROWICK, REASON E.O. 12958 1.5 (B,D)
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 00126 091554Z

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000126

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI); AF/S

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2007
TAGS: PREL MOPS AN VT
SUBJECT: MORE FROM ZUPPI ON UNITA CEASEFIRE

REF: A) 01 VATICAN 4030 B) VATICAN 0057

CLASSIFIED BY: POLOFF GEORGE FROWICK, REASON E.O. 12958 1.5 (B,D)
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 00126 091554Z


1. (C) SANT'EGIDIO AFRICA EXPERT AND SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
DON MATTEO ZUPPI TOLD CHARGE 01/08 THAT HE HAD SPOKEN AGAIN
WITH UNITA ROME REP COSTA ABOUT HIS PROPOSED THREE-MONTH
UNITA CEASEFIRE (REFTELS). ZUPPI SAID THAT COSTA HAD CALLED
HIM THE PREVIOUS EVENING TO REPORT SAVIMBI'S RESPONSE THAT
UNITA WAS NOT CURRENTLY IN A POSITION TO PROPOSE A CEASEFIRE
BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER "FAIRLY SERIOUS" ATTACK FROM GOS FORCES.
ZUPPI WAS GRATIFIED THAT SAVIMBI HAD NOT REJECTED THE NOTION
OUT OF HAND, AND TOLD COSTA HE WAS AVAILABLE TO TALK TO
SAVIMBI AT HIS CONVENIENCE (NOTE: ZUPPI SAID HE AND SAVIMBI
HAVE EACH OTHER'S CELL/SATELLITE PHONE NUMBERS, BUT ZUPPI
NEVER CALLS SAVIMBI DIRECTLY.)


2. (C) ZUPPI TOLD US HE SUGGESTED TO COSTA THAT SINCE A
CHRISTMAS CEASEFIRE WAS OBE, UNITA SHOULD CONSIDER PROPOSING
A CEASEFIRE TO COINCIDE WITH THE POPE'S JANUARY 25, 2002, DAY
OF PRAYER FOR PEACE IN ASSISI. (NOTE: THE POPE HAS INVITED
ABOUT 300 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO THIS, THE SECOND
DAY OF ECUMENICAL PRAYER FOR PEACE SINCE 1986, IN RESPONSE TO
THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS AND THE THREAT TO ECUMENISM FROM A
PERCEIVED CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS.) ZUPPI BELIEVES THAT THIS
MEETING WILL BE IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO GARNER SUBSTANTIAL
INTERNATIONAL PRESS ATTENTION AND THUS WOULD PROVIDE A GOOD
OPPORTUNITY TO UNITA TO OFFER THE GOS AND THE WORLD A STRONG
SIGNAL OF ITS SERIOUSNESS AT OPENING A SEARCH FOR PEACE.
ZUPPI ALSO CLARIFIED THAT IN HIS TALKS WITH SAVIMBI AND
COSTA, THEY HAD ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE LUSAKA PROCESS WAS
MORIBUND BUT NOT YET DEAD AND THAT ANY UNITA/GOS TALKS WOULD
HAVE TO PICK UP WHERE THE LAST LUSAKA DISCUSSIONS LEFT OFF.
MERANTE
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 03 VATICA 00126 091554Z

CONFIDENTIAL

>


2002VATICA00126 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL