PRESSING VATICAN ON PALESTINIAN VIOLENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000326

SIPDIS

EUR/WE (MENNUTI),NEA/IAI (SELDOWITZ)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2012
TAGS: IS PREL VT MEPP
SUBJECT: PRESSING VATICAN ON PALESTINIAN VIOLENCE

REF: A. A) STATE 6165 B) FROWICK/MENNUTI/SELDOWITZ

EMAILS 1/18/02

B. C) MERANTE/SILBERMAN EMAIL 1/18/02 D) STATE 3410

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON, REASON E.O. 12958 1.5 (B,D)


1. (C) AMBASSADOR TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A FRIDAY, 01/18 MEETING
WITH VATICAN FM EQUIVALENT JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN TO PRESS REFTEL
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POINTS ON THE ZINNI MISSION AND TO ASK TAURAN TO REQUEST
PRESIDENT ARAFAT TO HALT THE VIOLENCE AND TAKE STEPS TO
PROSECUTE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KARINE A WEAPONS
SHIPMENT. TAURAN, WHO IN THE PAST HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE
PROPONENT OF THE HOLY SEE'S "TILT" TOWARD THE PALESTINIANS
AND OF VATICAN INTERESTS IN PROTECTING THE HOLY SITES IN
JERUSALEM, TOOK THE POINTS ON BOARD, SAYING ARAFAT "WILL HEAR
FROM US." TAURAN ASKED THE AMBASSADOR WHETHER HE PERSONALLY
KNEW GEN. ZINNI. (NOTE: WE TAKE ALL THIS TO MEAN A) THAT
SOMEONE IN THE VATICAN WILL SPEAK DIRECTLY EITHER TO ARAFAT
OR TO ONE OF HIS PEOPLE AND B) THE VATICAN WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN MEETING WITH GEN. ZINNI).


2. (U) IN THE MEANTIME, AT HIS WEEKLY ANGELUS MESSAGE THE
POPE REFERRED TO THE "DEAD END" INTO WHICH THE CONFLICTING
PARTIES HAVE FOUGHT THEMSELVES AND CALLED FOR THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NOT TO ABANDON THEM TO THEIR FATE.
THIS FALLS ON THE HEELS OF HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE
DIPLOMATIC CORPS IN WHICH HE DEFENDED ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO
SECURITY WHILE DECRYING THE "FIFTY YEARS OF OPPRESSION" WHICH
THE PALESTINIANS HAVE SUFFERED.


3. (C) ON A SOMEWHAT RELATED ISSUE, THE EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR
TO THE HOLY SEE, FAROUK RAAFAT, DROPPED IN TO SEE THE
AMBASSADOR FRIDAY. RAAFAT ASKED IF THE USG WAR ON TERRORISM
WOULD TURN NEXT TO IRAQ. HIS DCM MET SEPARATELY ON THE SAME
ISSUE WITH EMBASSY VATICAN DCM THE DAY BEFORE. BOTH PRESSED
FOR THE USG TO TAKE IT SLOW ON IRAQ -- AND SEE WHETHER WE
COULD "WAIT SADAAM OUT."


4. (C) COMMENT: CLEARLY THE VATICAN WILL SEEK TO DEFEND ITS
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OWN INTERESTS IN THE ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN CONFLICT (THE RIGHTS
OF CHRISTIANS ABOVE ALL). BUT A FUNDAMENTAL VATICAN INTEREST
IS SEEING AN END TO THE VIOLENCE COMMITTED AGAINST BOTH
SIDES. WITH THAT IN MIND WE REQUEST DEPARTMENT CONSIDER A
ZINNI DROP BY DURING ONE OF HIS FUTURE VISITS TO THE REGION.
WE BELIEVE THE POPE WOULD WISH TO SPEAK TO HIM DIRECTLY ABOUT
POSSIBLE PATHS TO PEACE. ON IRAQ, WE NOTE THAT THE VATICAN
HAS NOT BEEN VOCAL ABOUT SANCTIONS IN RECENT WEEKS, INCLUDING
DURING THE POPE'S ANNUAL ADDRESS. FROM THE VATICAN
PERSPECTIVE, SANCTIONS ARE ALWAYS BAD; FAR WORSE, HOWEVER,
WOULD BE A MILITARY STRIKE. IF THE USG WERE TO INITIATE A
BOMBING CAMPAIGN IN IRAQ, THE VATICAN WOULD MOVE FROM ITS
FIRM SUPPORT OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR IN AFGHANISTAN TO
VIGOROUS AND PUBLIC OPPOSITION. END COMMENT.
NICHOLSON
SEMBLER

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002VATICA00326 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL