Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
02VATICAN3503 | 2002-07-15 15:01:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Vatican |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 151501Z Jul 02 |
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 003503 |
1. (C) SUMMARY: VATICAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MIGLIORE TOLD DCM JULY 12 THAT USG MARGINALIZATION OF ARAFAT WILL LIKELY EMPOWER HAMAS AND THEREBY JUSTIFY ISRAEL PM SHARON'S PLAN TO SEEK A MILITARY SOLUTION. THE VATICAN BELIEVES CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 02 VATICA 03503 151458Z ARAFAT'S PRESENCE CAN STILL LIMIT HAMAS' APPEAL. ACCORDING TO MIGLIORE, THE VATICAN SUPPORTS AN INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING FORCE FOR THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES, AND WOULD SEEK A SEAT AT ANY INTERNATIONAL PEACE CONFERENCE FOR THE MIDDLE EAST. END SUMMARY. 2. (C) DURING INCOMING DCM'S JULY 12 COURTESY CALL ON VATICAN DFM CELESTINO MIGLIORE, MIGLIORE RAISED HIS CONCERN AT USG POLICY CALLING FOR NEW LEADERSHIP OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY. MIGLIORE SAID THE ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN CONFLICT REMAINS OF GREAT CONCERN TO THE HOLY SEE, WHICH WISHES TO SEE AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CONVENED AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE. WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING ARAFAT'S SHORTCOMINGS. HE AVERRED THAT ARAFAT REMAINS A USEFUL RALLYING SYMBOL FOR PALESTINIANS. TO MOVE HIM OUT NOW WOULD ONLY PAVE THE WAY FOR MORE RADICAL ELEMENTS SUCH AS HAMAS, HE PREDICTED. DRAWING THE THREAD OUT FURTHER, MIGLIORE SAID MARGINALIZING ARAFAT WOULD BE A "GIFT TO SHARON," WHO WOULD THEN BE FREE TO PURSUE THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN THAT THE HOLY SEE BELIEVES HE HAS WANTED ALL ALONG -- AND SOMETHING THE HOLY SEE CATEGORICALLY REJECTS. 3. (C) MIGLIORE RECALLED THAT SECRETARY POWELL TOLD VATICAN PM EQUIVALENT CARDINAL SODANO DURING THE PRESIDENT'S JUNE VATICAN VISIT THAT THERE WAS NO CURRENT PLANNING FOR A CONFERENCE TO EXPLORE WAYS TO MOVE THE PEACE PROCESS FORWARD. MIGLIORE UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING IDEAS FOR MOVING THE PROCESS FORWARD. HE SAID THE HOLY SEE HAS ITS OWN IDEAS, BUT NO PLAN AS SUCH, OTHER THAN ITS "CLEAR AND SPECIFIC POLICY OF SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION FOR THE HOLY PLACES IN JERUSALEM." HE DID REMIND US OF THE HOLY SEE'S STANDING SUPPORT FOR AN INTERNATIONAL INTER-POSITIONAL CONFIDENTIAL PAGE 03 VATICA 03503 151458Z FORCE TO STOP THE VIOLENCE, AND NOW ITS STRONG INTEREST IN AN OBSERVER ROLE IN ANY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE MEPP. 4. (C) COMMENT: THE LEITMOTIF OF HOLY SEE FOREIGN POLICY IS DEFENSE OF THE HUMAN PERSON THROUGH PEACE, DIALOGUE, AND SOLIDARITY. THE VATICAN IS FEARFUL THAT THE PACE AND LEVEL OF VIOLENCE IN ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES HAS DULLED PEOPLES' SENSES, AND THAT VIOLENCE WILL TURN WORSE BEFORE IT EASES (IN FACT, FM TAURAN EXPRESSED THESE FEARS TO US WHEN THE CURRENT INTIFADA BEGAN IN LATE 2000). ARAFAT, AS DIFFICULT AS HE IS, HAS BEEN A REGULAR VISITOR AT THE HOLY SEE AND IS SOMEONE THE VATICAN FEELS IT CAN WORK WITH TO PROTECT THE CHRISTIAN HOLY SITES. THE VATICAN NOW SEES ITS INTERESTS THREATENED EVER MORE BY A POSSIBLE TURN AMONG PALESTINIANS TO ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST LEADERSHIP IF ARAFAT GOES. HARDT CONFIDENTIAL > 2002VATICA03503 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL |