SANT'EGIDIO WANTS VOTE ON ITS ECOSOC CANDIDACY

UNCLAS VATICAN 000173

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI),IO/UNP

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 006/02

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PREL VT UN
SUBJECT: SANT'EGIDIO WANTS VOTE ON ITS ECOSOC CANDIDACY



1. (SBU) THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE. SANT'EGIDIO
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SPECIALIST MARIO GIRO CALLED DCM
01/10 TO SEEK USG SUPPORT IN FORWARDING THE SANT'EGIDIO
CANDIDACY TO BE AN OBSERVER NGO AT THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
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COMMITTEE OF THE UN (ECOSOC). GIRO EXPLAINED THAT
SANT'EGIDIO BELIEVES IT HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE GREAT
MAJORITY OF COUNTRIES SITTING ON THE "NGO COMMISSION" OF THE
ECOSOC, INCLUDING OF THE UNITED STATES. GIRO AVERRED THAT
ALGERIA OBJECTS TO THE SANT'EGIDIO CANDIDACY, AND HAS
SUCCESSFULLY USED PARLIAMENTARY MANEUVERS TO POSTPONE THE
VOTE. GIRO SOUGHT SUPPORT FROM THE US DEL FOR MOVING THE
SANT'EGIDIO CANDIDACY TO A VOTE DURING THE UPCOMING SESSION
OF THE "NGO COMMISSION" STARTING 01/14/02. IF THEIR
CANDIDACY WERE TO BE BROUGHT TO A VOTE, GIRO WAS CONFIDENT
SANT'EGIDIO WOULD PREVAIL.


2. (SBU) IN A PHONE CONVERSATION WITH MONS. DOMINIQUE
MAMBERTI, THE HOLY SEE DESK OFFICER WHO COVERS UN ISSUES,
POLOFF ASKED WHETHER THIS CANDIDACY IS ON THE HOLY SEE'S
RADAR SCREEN. MAMBERTI WAS FAMILIAR WITH SANT'EGIDIO'S
PROBLEMS IN ALGERIA, BUT KNOW OF NO OBJECTIONS TO ITS ECOSOC
CANDIDACY IN THE HOLY SEE. AFTER ALL, HE SAID, "THEY ARE
NOT SEEKING A PLACE ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL!"


3. (SBU) COMMENT: SANT'EGIDIO IS A RELIABLE INTERLOCUTOR OF
THIS EMBASSY, AND ONE WHICH WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH IN
AREAS AS DIVERSE AS FUNDING ITS INTER-COMMUNAL EDUCATION
EFFORTS IN KOSOVO AND SUPPORTING ITS EFFORTS A MEDIATING
PEACE IN MOZAMBIQUE. WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH
SANT'EGIDIO TO SEE WHETHER THEY MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE IN
SUDAN. WHICH IS NOT TO SAY THAT SANT'EGIDIO HAS NEVER MADE
A FALSE STEP -- ALGERIA BEING A CASE IN POINT. IN THE MID-
1990S SANT'EGIDIO GOT INTO HOT WATER IN ALGERIA BY
ORGANIZING A MEETING WITH ALGERIAN OPPOSITION WITHOUT
COORDINATING ITS "BOOTLEG DIPLOMACY" EITHER WITH THE GOA OR
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THE HOLY SEE. BOTH REACTED NEGATIVELY, AND THE GOA SEEMS
STILL TO WISH TO PUNISH SANT'EGIDIO. NEVERTHELESS, FROM
WHERE WE SIT THE GROUP HAS DONE A LOT OF GOOD WORK; CLEARLY
IT CAN CONTRIBUTE IN A POSITIVE FASHION TO THE WORK OF THE
ECOSOC AND WE ENDORSE ITS CANDIDACY.


4. (SBU) ACTION REQUESTED: PLEASE PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON HOW
TO RESPOND TO SANT'EGIDIO'S REQUEST.
NICHOLSON

UNCLASSIFIED

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2002VATICA00173 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED