WORKING WITH THE HOLY SEE IN INTERNATIONAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 VATICAN 003633 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT. EUR/WE (MENNUTI),IO, IO/UNP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV AORC PGOV AORC PGOV AORC VT UN VTPREL UN VTPREL UN SUBJECT: WORKING WITH THE HOLY SEE IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS - POWERFUL ALLY AND OCCASIONAL FOE REF: VATICAN 0444 -------------- INTRODUCTION -------------- ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: THE HOLY SEE ACTIVELY SEEKS TO INFLUENCE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 VATICA 03633 01 OF 03 231457Z THE POLICIES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS AND PARTICIPATES INTENSELY IN THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE TO PROMOTE ITS OWN AGENDA, PARTICULARLY ITS POSITION ON SEXUALITY AND THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY. THE HOLY SEE WILL BE A U.S. ALLY ON ISSUES THAT DEFEND "HUMAN DIGNITY," SUCH AS TRAFFICKING, PEACEKEEPING, DEVELOPMENT AID, AND HUMAN RIGHTS. IT COULD BE A POWERFUL OPPONENT ON OTHERS SUCH AS MILITARY INTERVENTION, SANCTIONS, THE DEATH PENALTY, AND ASPECTS OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. U.S. MISSIONS TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE WELL SERVED WHEN THEY CULTIVATE AND MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONS WITH HOLY SEE REPRESENTATIVES, WORKING TOGETHER WHERE OUR POSITIONS ARE COMPLEMENTARY, AND ENSURING U.S. POSITIONS ARE UNDERSTOOD WHERE VIEWS MAY DIVERGE. END SUMMARY. -------------- THE HOLY SEE'S MULTILATERAL FOREIGN POLICY -------------- ¶2. (U) THE HOLY SEE IS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN A BROAD RANGE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS -- TYPICALLY AS AN "OBSERVER" -- AND WORKS WITHIN THESE FORA TO ADVANCE PRINCIPLES CENTRAL TO THE CHURCH'S WORLD VIEW: PRIORITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON; THE PROMOTION AND, WHEN NECESSARY, THE DEFENSE OF PEACE; SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY BUILDING INITIATIVES; AND CONSTRUCTION OF AN INTERNATIONAL ORDER BASED ON JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS. FM TAURAN RECENTLY RESTATED THE HOLY SEE'S BASIC MESSAGE TO UN MEMBER STATES: ALL NATIONS ARE EQUAL, WITH EQUAL DIGNITY AND RIGHT TO DEFENSE OF IDENTITY AND AUTONOMY; NATIONS MUST ACT IN SOLIDARITY (I.E., ACCORDING TO RECIPROCAL MORAL OBLIGATIONS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 VATICA 03633 01 OF 03 231457Z NOT ONLY TO TREAT EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT BUT TO SEE THAT PEOPLES' BASIC NEEDS ARE MET). THE HOLY SEE REGARDS THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM AS AN IDEAL FORUM AND PRIVILEGED PLATFORM TO ADVANCE THESE PRINCIPLES MULTILATERALLY. AS A RESULT, IT HAS TENDED TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHEN FACED WITH THE UN'S FAILINGS, PARTICULARLY ITS BUREAUCRATIC DEFICIENCIES. IT IS UNLIKELY TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT U.S. CRITIQUES OF THE UN. HOWEVER, THE HOLY SEE WILL NOT HESITATE TO CRITICIZE THE UN AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS DIRECTLY WHEN THESE ENGAGE IN A PERCEIVED ASSAULT ON THE HOLY SEE'S CORE PRINCIPLES. ¶3. (U) IN OPTING FOR PERMANENT OBSERVER STATUS RATHER THAN FULL MEMBERSHIP IN MOST ORGANIZATIONS, THE HOLY SEE HAS SOUGHT TO EMPHASIZE ITS MORAL, RATHER THAN POLITICAL, AUTHORITY, AND ITS UNIQUE INTERNATIONAL JURIDICAL STATUS. THE HOLY SEE THEREFORE OPERATES FROM A DOCTRINAL AND PRINCIPLE-BASED PERSPECTIVE WITHIN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO MAINTAIN ITS REPUTATION OF BEING "SUPER PARTES" - A DISINTERESTED MORAL AGENT ACTING FOR THE GOOD OF HUMANITY. THE HOLY SEE IS RELUCTANT TO ENGAGE IN PURELY "POLITICAL" MATTERS, SUCH AS THE UNSC VOTE ON SUDAN'S MEMBERSHIP, EVEN TO THE EXTENT OF ESCHEWING ITS VOTE ON SUCH MATTERS IN FORA WHERE IT HAS A VOTE. THE HOLY SEE PREFERS NOT TO ENGAGE ON OPERATIONAL ISSUES SUCH AS CANDIDACIES FOR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, PREFERRING TO BE IN THE ORGANIZATION BUT NOT OF IT. IN THE SUDAN CASE, IT DID TAKE AN ACTIVE BUT BEHIND THE SCENES ROLE IN DISCUSSING WITH OTHER UNSC DELEGATES THE INAPPROPRIATENESS OF SUDAN AS A UNSC MEMBER. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 VATICA 03633 01 OF 03 231457Z ¶4. (SBU) SOME WITHIN THE CHURCH HIERARCHY HAVE QUESTIONED WHETHER THE HOLY SEE WOULD BE BETTER SERVED BY FULL VOTING MEMBERSHIP IN MORE ORGANIZATIONS, BUT AS BISHOP MARCHETTO OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS AND TRAVELERS RECENTLY POINTED OUT TO US, OBSRVER STATUS GIVES THE HOLY SEE THE BEST OF BOTH ORLDS: IT CAN PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSIONS AS ACTVELY AS ANY MEMBER, BUT RETAINS THE ABILITY TO SAY ABOVE THE FRAY AND "SAY THINGS THAT NEED TO BESAID." ¶5. (U) THE HOLY SEE'S PRINCIPLES TRANSATE INTO A SERIES OF STRONGLY HELD POSITIONS ON SSUES OF PRIORITY INTEREST TO THE UNITED STATES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE HOLY SEE BELIEVES THAT WAR MUST ALWAYS BE REFUTED AND PRIORITY GIVEN TO NEGOTIATION AND THE USE OF JURIDICAL MEANS FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION. IT WILL THEREFORE OPPOSE THE USE OF FORCE UNLESS THE REQUIREMENTS OF ITS JUST WAR DOCTRINE ARE FULFILLED, AS WAS THE CASE IN THE LIBERATION OF KUWAIT, BUT NOT IN THE CONTINUED MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ (REFTEL). THE HOLY SEE ALSO USES MULTILATERAL DIPLOMACY TO PROTECT HUMAN LIFE FROM CONCEPTION TO NATURAL DEATH, AS WELL AS TO PROMOTE ITS UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ4187 PAGE 01 VATICA 03633 02 OF 03 231458Z ACTION EUR-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00 DS-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 OES-01 OIC-02 SS-00 TEST-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 SAS-00 /006W -------------- CF169A 231458Z /38 R 231456Z JUL 02 FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN TO SECSTATE WASHDC GENEVA IO MISSIONS COLLECTIVE UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 VATICAN 003633 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT. EUR/WE (MENNUTI),IO, IO/UNP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV AORC PGOV AORC PGOV AORC VT UN VTPREL UN VTPREL UN SUBJECT: WORKING WITH THE HOLY SEE IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS - POWERFUL ALLY AND OCCASIONAL FOE TRADITIONAL JUDEO-CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING OF THE FAMILY. IT FAVORS GRADUAL REDUCTION IN MILITARY SPENDING AND EFFECTIVE DISARMAMENT, SEEKS TO PROMOTE RESPECT FOR CULTURES AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS, AND DEMONSTRATES SOLIDARITY WITH POOR COUNTRIES TO PROMOTE THEIR DEVELOPMENT. -------------- UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 VATICA 03633 02 OF 03 231458Z POWERFUL ALLY EFFECTIVE FOE -------------- ¶6. (U) IN MANY CASES, U.S. AND VATICAN VIEWS ARE COMPATIBLE, AND HOLY SEE DIPLOMATS CAN BE VALUABLE ALLIES. WHERE THE USG SEEKS TO PROMOTE HUMAN VALUES AND RELIEVE HUMAN SUFFERING BY MEDIATING CONFLICTS, COMBATING DISEASE, AND PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS, THE HOLY SEE WILL BE A STRONG PARTNER. THE HOLY SEE PERCEIVES A CLOSER THAN EVER CONVERGENCE WITH THE USG IN SEVERAL AREAS. THE MOST UNAMBIGUOUS EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE RECENT COORDINATION OF POSITIONS IN SUPPORT OF A UN CONVENTION TO BAN ALL FORMS OF HUMAN CLONING, AN EFFORT THAT WAS EXTREMELY WELL-RECEIVED AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS IN THE CURIA. POST IS ALSO ENGAGED WITH RELEVANT CURIA OFFICES IN A DIALOGUE TO EXPLORE QUESTIONS OF FOOD SECURITY IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD AND THE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO BE MADE BY GMOS. WHILE THE HOLY SEE HAS YET TO BE CONVINCED THAT USG COMMERCIAL INTERESTS ARE NOT THE DRIVING MOTIVATION FOR OUR SUPPORT FOR GMO'S, THEY ARE WILLING TO DISCUSS GMOS WITH AN OPEN MIND AS A MEANS OF INCREASING FOOD SECURITY. IF WE CAN MAKE OUR CASE, THE HOLY SEE COULD BECOME A POWERFUL BOOSTER IN THE FAO AND THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR GMO'S AS A MEANS TO ALLEVIATE HUNGER. IF, HOWEVER, THE HOLY SEE WERE TO CONCLUDE THAT GMOS ARE IMMORAL, IT COULD COMPLICATE OUR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE U.S. AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE ALLEVIATION OF HUNGER THROUGH GMO'S. ¶7. (U) SOME WITHIN THE HOLY SEE BELIEVE THAT A FEW WESTERN NATIONS AND NGOS HAVE HIJACKED THE UN TO PROMOTE FEMINIST AND HOMOSEXUAL AGENDAS THAT REFLECT MINORITY POSITIONS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 VATICA 03633 02 OF 03 231458Z WITHIN THE NGO'S HOME COUNTRIES. AT THE CAIRO CONFERENCE, AS WELL AS IN BEIJING IN 1995, THE HOLY SEE FORMED EFFECTIVE ALLIANCES WITH CONSERVATIVE SOUTH AMERICAN AND ISLAMIC STATES SUCH AS GUATEMALA AND LIBYA IN SUPPORT OF ITS POSITION. THE STRATEGY WAS SUCCESSFUL AND WE EXPECT IT TO BE USED AGAIN. ACCORDING TO FM TAURAN, THE HOLY SEE'S BASIC POSITION IS THAT A FAMILY IS CONSTITUTED OF A MAN AND A WOMAN IN A PERMANENT RELATIONSHIP, AND THAT HUMAN NATURE AND UNIVERSAL RIGHTS EXIST AND ARE SANCTIONED IN THE "GREAT DOCUMENTS AND CONVENTIONS THAT REGULATE THE LIFE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY." TAURAN SAID THE HOLY SEE WOULD CONTINUE TO PROMOTE A CONSERVATIVE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN MORALITY OF SEXUAL ABSTINENCE OUTSIDE OF LEGAL MARRIAGE, FIDELITY WITHIN MARRIAGE, AND OPPOSITION TO ARTIFICIAL FORMS OF CONTRACEPTION, ABORTION AND THE DEATH PENALTY. OBVIOUSLY, THIS APPROACH LEADS THE HOLY SEE TO BALKS AT WIDELY SANCTIONED APPROACHES ON SOME ISSUES SUCH AS CONDOM USE TO PREVENT HIV/AIDS IN AFRICA, PREFERRING TO FOCUS ON EDUCATION, ABSTINENCE, AND TREATMENT. THE HOLY SEE HAS ALSO LOBBIED AGAINST REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INITIATIVES SUCH AS ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION AND ABORTION FOR WOMEN IN REFUGEE CAMPS DURING RECENT CONFLICTS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE VIGOROUSLY TO PROMOTE ITS VIEWS ON REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (SBU) THE HOLY SEE WILL ACTIVELY CULTIVATE ALLIANCES WITH ANY STATE OR ORGANIZATION THAT FOSTERS TRADITIONAL EXPRESSIONS OF THE FAMILY, CONSERVATIVE SEXUAL AND UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 VATICA 03633 02 OF 03 231458Z REPRODUCTIVE POSITIONS, EQUITABLE ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION, AND ETHICAL PRINCIPALS THAT RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT HUMAN LIFE FROM CONCEPTION TO NATURAL DEATH. THE HOLY SEE WILL BE AGGRESSIVE IN FOSTERING SUCH ALLIANCES, AS WHEN IT SOLICITED THE SUPPORT OF MOSLEM STATES DURING RECENT UN CONFERENCES. THE HOLY SEE ALSO ENCOURAGES SYMPATHETIC NGOS ACCREDITED TO THE UN TO LOBBY INDIVIDUAL STATES ON SO-CALLED MORAL ISSUES. VATICAN OFFICIALS ARE VERY OPEN TO DISCUSSION WITH U.S. OFFICIALS, ARE NOT MONOLITHIC IN VIEW, AND CAN BE CONVINCED BY MORAL ARGUMENTS. TO GAIN THEIR SUPPORT, EMBASSIES SHOULD SEEK TO CONVEY TO HOLY SEE REPRESENTATIVES HOW OUR POLICIES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ADVANCING THE PRINCIPLES THEY HOLD DEAR. ¶9. (U) THE HOLY SEE IS REPRESENTED AT THE FOLLOWING INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: OBSERVER STATUS: UNITED NATIONS UNITED NATIONS OFFICES AND SPECIALIZED INSTITUTIONS (UNHCR, UNICEF, ETC) UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTQ4188 PAGE 01 VATICA 03633 03 OF 03 231458Z ACTION EUR-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00 DS-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 OES-01 OIC-02 SS-00 TEST-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 SAS-00 /006W -------------- CF16A3 231458Z /38 R 231456Z JUL 02 FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN TO SECSTATE WASHDC GENEVA IO MISSIONS COLLECTIVE UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 VATICAN 003633 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT. EUR/WE (MENNUTI),IO, IO/UNP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV AORC PGOV AORC PGOV AORC VT UN VTPREL UN VTPREL UN SUBJECT: WORKING WITH THE HOLY SEE IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS - POWERFUL ALLY AND OCCASIONAL FOE UNITED NATIONS OFFICES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATIONS FOR NUTRITION AND AGRICULTURE (FAO, IFAD, WFP) UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION FOR EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE (UNESCO) UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 VATICA 03633 03 OF 03 231458Z WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (REPRESENTED BY AN AMBASSADOR) COUNCIL OF EUROPE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES THE ARAB LEAGUE WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION ORGANIZATION FOR AFRICAN UNITY INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR MILITARY MEDICINE FULL MEMBERSHIP WITH VOTING RIGHTS: ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY NICHOLSON UNCLASSIFIED > 2002VATICA03633 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED