Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02VATICAN3492
2002-07-15 12:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

VATICAN CONCERNED BY DRAFT RUSSIAN VISA RULES

Tags:  PREL PGOV KIRF PHUM VT RU 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 003492 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI),DRL/IRF (FARR)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV KIRF PHUM VT RU
SUBJECT: VATICAN CONCERNED BY DRAFT RUSSIAN VISA RULES

REF: VATICAN 2239

CLASSIFIED BY: D. BRENT HARDT, CDA, REASON E.O. 12958 1.5 (B,D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 003492

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI),DRL/IRF (FARR)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2012
TAGS: PREL PGOV KIRF PHUM VT RU
SUBJECT: VATICAN CONCERNED BY DRAFT RUSSIAN VISA RULES

REF: VATICAN 2239

CLASSIFIED BY: D. BRENT HARDT, CDA, REASON E.O. 12958 1.5 (B,D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: VATICAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MIGLIORE
TOLD DCM JULY 12 THAT A NEW RUSSIAN DRAFT LAW ON RELIGIOUS
WORKER VISAS COULD HAVE A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON THE CHURCH'S
ABILITY TO OPERATE IN RUSSIA. FOR EXAMPLE, MIGLIORE
INDICATED THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S OPERATIONS IN IRKUTSK
WOULD HAVE TO CEASE IF THE LAWS WERE TO PASS IN ITS CURRENT
FORM, AND OTHER AREAS WOULD BE IMPEDED GIVEN THE SHORTAGE OF
CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 03492 151244Z
RUSSIAN PRIESTS NATIONWIDE. THE VATICAN IS STILL SEEKING TO
DETERMINE WHETHER THIS DRAFT HAS HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL SUPPORT
OR IS THE WORK OF THE BUREAUCRACY. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) DURING INCOMING DCM'S JULY 12 COURTESY CALL ON
VATICAN DFM CELESTINO MIGLIORE, MIGLIORE RAISED HIS CONCERN
ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF DRAFT RUSSIAN RELIGIOUS VISA LAWS
THAT WOULD REQUIRE RELIGIOUS WORKERS TO LEAVE RUSSIA EVERY
THREE MONTHS TO RENEW THEIR STATUS. HE SAID IT USUALLY TAKES
A MONTH FOR THOSE VISAS TO BE PROCESSED, AND WOULD REQUIRE
PRIESTS AND OTHER RELIGIOUS WORKERS FROM POLAND, THE
PHILIPPINES AND OTHER COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN TO LEAVE THEIR
PARISHES FOR ONE MONTH OUT OF EVERY FOUR AT GREAT EXPENSE AND
LOSS OF TIME. IN EFFECT, HE SAID, THE DECREE IS "JUST LIKE
SAYING CLOSE DOWN YOUR ACTIVITIES." MIGLIORE WAS ALSO
CONCERNED THAT THE GOR HAS LISTED A FURTHER 15 RELIGIOUS
LEADERS "TO BE EXPELLED."


3. (C) ASKED WHETHER BISHOP MAZUR (PREVIOUSLY DENIED A VISA
TO RETURN TO THE DIOCESE OF SAKHALIN -- SEE REFTEL) HAD HEARD
ANY NEWS ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF HIS VISA, MIGLIORE SAID THE
HOLY SEE HAD NOT EVEN HEARD FROM THE GOR THE LEGAL BASIS FOR
HIS VISA REFUSAL. MAZUR CONTINUES TO COOL HIS HEELS IN
POLAND. HE INDICATED THAT THERE IS A REAL RISK THAT THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH'S ACTIVITIES IN IRKUTSK WOULD HAVE TO CEASE
IF MAZUR DOESN'T GET HIS VISA AND IF THE NEW DECREE COMES
INTO FORCE. HE SAID THAT WHEN THE HOLY SEE ATTEMPTS TO
DISCUSS THESE ISSUES IN MOSCOW, THEY ARE TOLD THAT "LOWER
LEVEL OFFICIALS" ARE RESPONSIBLE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, THE
CHURCH'S CLERGY ARE STILL DENIED THE CHANCE TO CONDUCT THEIR
PASTORAL WORK.
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PAGE 03 VATICA 03492 151244Z


4. (C) COMMENT: MIGLIORE'S COMMENTS ABOUT THIS NEW RUSSIAN
DECREE INDICATED A NEW LEVEL OF CONCERN WITHIN THE VATICAN
FOR THEIR ABILITY TO OPERATE IN RUSSIA. MIGLIORE RAISED THE
ISSUE IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ABOUT THE HOLY SEE'S CURRENT
INTERNATIONAL PRIORITIES, GIVING IT TOP BILLING. THE NEW
DRAFT LAW COMES ON THE HEELS OF A VITUPERATIVE STATEMENT BY
THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH'S SPOKESMAN FOR EXTERNAL
RELATIONS, ARCHPRIEST VSEVOLOD CHAPLIN JULY 5 IN WHICH HE
CONDEMNED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S COMPETITIVE APPROACH AS
"EXPANSION AT ANY PRICE," AND ASSERTED THAT THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH HAS HAD "ALMOST ZERO SUCCESS." WE WOULD APPRECIATE
EMBASSY MOSCOW'S TAKE ON WHETHER THERE IS A REAL THREAT THAT
THE CHURCH'S OPERATIONS COULD BE "SHUT DOWN" OR OTHERWISE
SERIOUSLY IMPEDED BY THE NEW DRAFT LAW AND WHETHER THIS
REPRESENTS A NEW ESCALATION IN THE TENSE RELATIONS BETWEEN
THE TWO CHURCHES. WITH VATICAN MFA COUNTRY DIRECTOR FOR
RUSSIAN/NIS ISSUES ARCHBISHOP TRICARICO SOON TO RETIRE, THE
VATICAN IS THIN ON PERSONNEL AND NOT WELL POSITIONED TO PUSH
ITS INTEREST IN THIS AREA.
HARDT

CONFIDENTIAL

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2002VATICA03492 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL