Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02VATICAN1674
2002-04-04 06:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

VATICAN'S GROWING CONCERN WITH MIDDLE EAST

Tags:  IS PHUM PREL VT VTIS 
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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 001674 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2012
TAGS: IS PHUM PREL PHUM PREL VT VTIS
SUBJECT: VATICAN'S GROWING CONCERN WITH MIDDLE EAST
DEVELOPMENTS


CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 1.5 (A) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 001674

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2012
TAGS: ISRAEL'>IS PHUM PREL PHUM PREL VT VTIS
SUBJECT: VATICAN'S GROWING CONCERN WITH MIDDLE EAST
DEVELOPMENTS


CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 1.5 (A) AND (D).

1.(C) FOREIGN MINISTER TAURAN CONVOKED AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON
TODAY, APRIL 3 AND PRESENTED A NOTE VERBALE (FAXED TO
EUR/WE). TAURAN SAID THAT THE "ARAB STREETS ARE BOILING",
ESPECIALLY IN CAIRO AND JORDAN. THE VATICAN FEARS TERRORIST
ATTACKS AROUND THE WORLD AND A PETROLEUM CRISIS. THE FOREIGN
MINISTER STRESSED THAT ISRAEL HAS A RIGHT TO PROVIDE SECURITY
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 01674 050925Z
FOR ITS PEOPLE, BUT ITS CURRENT ACTIONS ARE DISPROPORTIONATE.
HE REMARKED THAT HE FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THE
ISRAELIS DON'T REALIZE THE IMPACT THE TELEVISION IMAGES OF
THEIR ATTACKS ARE HAVING ON THE ARAB WORLD. TAURAN AGAIN
CALLED FOR "PEACEMAKERS" ON THE SPOT, ALTHOUGH HE ADMITTED
THAT IT IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE ARE NO FRONT LINES TO
SEPARATE.

2.(C) THE AMBASSADOR AND TAURAN ALSO DISCUSSED THE CURRENT
SITUATION OF A CONVENT OF THE SISTERS OF SAINT BRIDGET IN
BETHLEHEM. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING OCCUPIED BY PALESTINIAN
GUNMEN WHO ARE USING THE NUNS AS HUMAN SHIELDS. IN ADDITION
TO SEVEN NUNS OF DIVERSE NATIONALITY (INCLUDING AN AMCIT)
THERE ARE 200 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOUGHT REFUGE IN THE CONVENT.
TAURAN SAID THAT HE SPOKE WITH THE ISRAELI DCM YESTERDAY TO
URGE THE ISRAELIS NOT TO SHELL THE CONVENT (SAINT MARY'S
HOUSE),AS IT WOULD TURN INTO A MASSACRE. HE ALSO REQUESTED
OUR ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING ACCESS FOR THE RED CROSS TO
DELIVER FOOD, WHICH HE SAYS IS CURRENTLY BEING DENIED BY
ISRAEL. NICHOLSON

CONFIDENTIAL

>
@@@OASYS@@@

CONFIDENTIAL PTO1203

PAGE 01 VATICA 01674 040657Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00
DS-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 VCE-00 NEA-00 DCP-01
NSAE-00 SSO-00 SS-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 SAS-00 /003W
-------------- 7ECDEB 040658Z /38
O 040609Z APR 02
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 001674

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2012
TAGS: IS PHUM PREL PHUM PREL VT VTIS
SUBJECT: VATICAN'S GROWING CONCERN WITH MIDDLE EAST
DEVELOPMENTS

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 1.5 (A) AND (D).

1.(C) FOREIGN MINISTER TAURAN CONVOKED AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON
TODAY, APRIL 3 AND PRESENTED A NOTE VERBALE (FAXED TO
EUR/WE). TAURAN SAID THAT THE "ARAB STREETS ARE BOILING",
ESPECIALLY IN CAIRO AND JORDAN. THE VATICAN FEARS TERRORIST
ATTACKS AROUND THE WORLD AND A PETROLEUM CRISIS. THE FOREIGN
MINISTER STRESSED THAT ISRAEL HAS A RIGHT TO PROVIDE SECURITY
FOR ITS PEOPLE, BUT ITS CURRENT ACTIONS ARE DISPROPORTIONATE.
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 01674 040657Z
HE REMARKED THAT HE FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THE
ISRAELIS DON'T REALIZE THE IMPACT THE TELEVISION IMAGES OF
THEIR ATTACKS ARE HAVING ON THE ARAB WORLD. TAURAN AGAIN
CALLED FOR "PEACEMAKERS" ON THE SPOT, ALTHOUGH HE ADMITTED
THAT IT IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE ARE NO FRONT LINES TO
SEPARATE.

2.(C) THE AMBASSADOR AND TAURAN ALSO DISCUSSED THE CURRENT
SITUATION OF A CONVENT OF THE SISTERS OF SAINT BRIDGET IN
BETHLEHEM. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING OCCUPIED BY PALESTINIAN
GUNMEN WHO ARE USING THE NUNS AS HUMAN SHIELDS. IN ADDITION
TO SEVEN NUNS OF DIVERSE NATIONALITY (INCLUDING AN AMCIT)
THERE ARE 200 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOUGHT REFUGE IN THE CONVENT.
TAURAN SAID THAT HE SPOKE WITH THE ISRAELI DCM YESTERDAY TO
URGE THE ISRAELIS NOT TO SHELL THE CONVENT (SAINT MARY'S
HOUSE),AS IT WOULD TURN INTO A MASSACRE. HE ALSO REQUESTED
OUR ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING ACCESS FOR THE RED CROSS TO
DELIVER FOOD, WHICH HE SAYS IS CURRENTLY BEING DENIED BY
ISRAEL. NICHOLSON

CONFIDENTIAL

>


2002VATICA01674 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL