Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02VATICAN1921
2002-04-18 05:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
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 001921
SIPDIS
FOR AF/E MORIARTY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2007
TAGS: PREL PGOV MA VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN CLUELESS ON MADAGASCAR
REF: MORIARTY/FROWICK TELCON 04/12
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON, REASON E.O. 12958 1.5 (B,D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 001921
SIPDIS
FOR AF/E MORIARTY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2007
TAGS: PREL PGOV MA VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN CLUELESS ON MADAGASCAR
REF: MORIARTY/FROWICK TELCON 04/12
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON, REASON E.O. 12958 1.5 (B,D).
1. (C) PER REFTELCON, POLOFF MET MORNING OF MONDAY, APRIL 15
WITH VATICAN DESK OFFICER FOR MADAGASCAR AFFAIRS MONS. LUIGI
CAVALIERE. (NOTE: CAVALIERE, AN "OLD SCHOOL" VATICAN
DIPLOMAT WHO ALSO COVERS AUSTRIA, FRANCE, NETHERLANDS,
SWITZERLAND AND SEVERAL OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES, HAD -- LIKE
POLOFF -- TO READ UP ON THE SITUATION IN MADAGASCAR BEFORE
THE MEETING. END NOTE.) CAVALIERE HAD NOTHING MUCH TO OFFER
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 VATICA 01921 180557Z
BY WAY OF INSIGHT ON A WAY OUT OF THE DETERIORATING SITUATION
IN MADAGASCAR. CAVALIERE SAID THE SITUATION WAS DELICATE,
BUT VAGUE AND FLUID, AND HADN'T MUCH MORE TO ADD. IN FACT,
TO UNDERSCORE THE HOLY SEE'S LACK OF FOCUS ON MADAGASCAR, HE
CHARACTERIZED IT AS A "CIOCCOLATINO" (CHOCOLATE TIDBIT)
COMPARED TO THE HOLY SEE'S WORRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
INDEED, HE LIMITED HIMSELF TO RESTATING THE POPE'S LAST
PRONOUNCEMENT ON MADAGASCAR, READ AT THE MARCH 3 ANGELUS
PRAYER, IN WHICH THE PONTIFF CALLED FOR PEACE, JUSTICE AND
DIALOGUE.
2. (C) NOTING THAT THE HOLY SEE HAD IN OTHER AFRICAN
CONFLICT AREAS BEEN ABLE TO EMPLOY A SPECIAL DIALOGUE WITH
INVOLVED PARTIES (E.G. THE JESUIT CONTACTS WITH MUGABE),
POLOFF ASKED WHETHER THE CAVALIERE KNEW OF ANY PERSONAL
CONTACTS CHURCH OFFICIALS MIGHT HAVE WITH RATSIRANGA. HE
KNEW OF NONE, BUT AVERRED THAT THE NUNCIO (WHO HAD JUST
RETURNED TO ANTANANARIVO FROM A FAMILY VISIT IN ITALY) WOULD
BE IN THE BEST POSITION TO TALK TO BOTH PARTIES.
3. (C) COMMENT: OBVIOUSLY CAVALIERE WAS NOT SO CONCERNED AT
DEVELOPMENTS IN MADAGASCAR ACTUALLY TO BE FOLLOWING THEM. HE
TOLD US HE HAD RELIED MOSTLY ON FRENCH DAILY LE MONDE
REPORTS. INDEED, HE SEEMED TO BE LIVING UP TO HIS NAME --
FOR EXAMPLE HE POOH-POOHED THE USG DECISION TO MOVE TO
ORDERED DEPARTURE. WE DO NOT BELIEVE HIS CAVALIER ATTITUDE
WOULD REFLECT THE CONCERNS OF HIS SUPERIORS.
NICHOLSON
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2002VATICA01921 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
FOR AF/E MORIARTY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2007
TAGS: PREL PGOV MA VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN CLUELESS ON MADAGASCAR
REF: MORIARTY/FROWICK TELCON 04/12
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON, REASON E.O. 12958 1.5 (B,D).
1. (C) PER REFTELCON, POLOFF MET MORNING OF MONDAY, APRIL 15
WITH VATICAN DESK OFFICER FOR MADAGASCAR AFFAIRS MONS. LUIGI
CAVALIERE. (NOTE: CAVALIERE, AN "OLD SCHOOL" VATICAN
DIPLOMAT WHO ALSO COVERS AUSTRIA, FRANCE, NETHERLANDS,
SWITZERLAND AND SEVERAL OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES, HAD -- LIKE
POLOFF -- TO READ UP ON THE SITUATION IN MADAGASCAR BEFORE
THE MEETING. END NOTE.) CAVALIERE HAD NOTHING MUCH TO OFFER
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 VATICA 01921 180557Z
BY WAY OF INSIGHT ON A WAY OUT OF THE DETERIORATING SITUATION
IN MADAGASCAR. CAVALIERE SAID THE SITUATION WAS DELICATE,
BUT VAGUE AND FLUID, AND HADN'T MUCH MORE TO ADD. IN FACT,
TO UNDERSCORE THE HOLY SEE'S LACK OF FOCUS ON MADAGASCAR, HE
CHARACTERIZED IT AS A "CIOCCOLATINO" (CHOCOLATE TIDBIT)
COMPARED TO THE HOLY SEE'S WORRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
INDEED, HE LIMITED HIMSELF TO RESTATING THE POPE'S LAST
PRONOUNCEMENT ON MADAGASCAR, READ AT THE MARCH 3 ANGELUS
PRAYER, IN WHICH THE PONTIFF CALLED FOR PEACE, JUSTICE AND
DIALOGUE.
2. (C) NOTING THAT THE HOLY SEE HAD IN OTHER AFRICAN
CONFLICT AREAS BEEN ABLE TO EMPLOY A SPECIAL DIALOGUE WITH
INVOLVED PARTIES (E.G. THE JESUIT CONTACTS WITH MUGABE),
POLOFF ASKED WHETHER THE CAVALIERE KNEW OF ANY PERSONAL
CONTACTS CHURCH OFFICIALS MIGHT HAVE WITH RATSIRANGA. HE
KNEW OF NONE, BUT AVERRED THAT THE NUNCIO (WHO HAD JUST
RETURNED TO ANTANANARIVO FROM A FAMILY VISIT IN ITALY) WOULD
BE IN THE BEST POSITION TO TALK TO BOTH PARTIES.
3. (C) COMMENT: OBVIOUSLY CAVALIERE WAS NOT SO CONCERNED AT
DEVELOPMENTS IN MADAGASCAR ACTUALLY TO BE FOLLOWING THEM. HE
TOLD US HE HAD RELIED MOSTLY ON FRENCH DAILY LE MONDE
REPORTS. INDEED, HE SEEMED TO BE LIVING UP TO HIS NAME --
FOR EXAMPLE HE POOH-POOHED THE USG DECISION TO MOVE TO
ORDERED DEPARTURE. WE DO NOT BELIEVE HIS CAVALIER ATTITUDE
WOULD REFLECT THE CONCERNS OF HIS SUPERIORS.
NICHOLSON
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2002VATICA01921 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL