Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02VATICAN3637
2002-07-23 15:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:  

AID AND ADVOCACY FOR NORTH KOREA - VATICAN AGENCY

Tags:  PGOV PREL EAID KN KS VT 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 003637 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT. EUR/WE (MENNUTI); EAP/K, DRL/IRF
DEPT. PLEASE PASS USAID ANE AND BHR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID KN KS PREL EAID KN KS VT VTPGOV
SUBJECT: AID AND ADVOCACY FOR NORTH KOREA - VATICAN AGENCY
SEEKS MORE DONORS, INCREASED CONTACTS

REF: VATICAN 0290

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 VATICA 03637 01 OF 02 250608Z
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SUMMARY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 003637

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT. EUR/WE (MENNUTI); EAP/K, DRL/IRF
DEPT. PLEASE PASS USAID ANE AND BHR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID KN KS PREL EAID KN KS VT VTPGOV
SUBJECT: AID AND ADVOCACY FOR NORTH KOREA - VATICAN AGENCY
SEEKS MORE DONORS, INCREASED CONTACTS

REF: VATICAN 0290

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 VATICA 03637 01 OF 02 250608Z
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (SBU) CATHOLIC CHURCH AID AGENCY CONFEDERATION CARITAS
INTERNATIONALIS (CI) REPORTS NORTH KOREA'S HUMANITARIAN
CRISIS CONTINUES WITH MORE THAN SIX MILLION PEOPLE FACING
ACUTE SHORTAGES OF FOOD, MEDICINES, AND DRINKING WATER
(REFTEL). CI IS SEEKING WAYS TO ATTRACT MORE DONORS AS
PLEDGES FROM MEMBER AGENCIES HAVE DECREASED BECAUSE OF
COMPETING DISASTERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. CI WILL FOCUS ON
APPROPRIATE ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES TO KEEP NORTH KOREA IN THE
PUBLIC EYE AND TO HELP AVOID THE MARGINALIZATION OF THE
COUNTRY WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. CI WILL NOT BE
LOBBYING THE USG DIRECTLY FOR AN INCREASE IN FOOD AID FOR
NORTH KOREA. CARITAS' NORTH KOREA COUNTRY GROUP MET IN
CLOSED SESSION LATE JUNE AT ITS VATICAN CITY HEADQUARTERS,
AND PROVIDED EMBASSY WITH AN INTERNAL DOCUMENT OF THE
MEETING MINUTES. END SUMMARY.

--------------
AID FOR NORTH KOREA
--------------


2. (SBU) CARITAS REPRESENTATIVE RESPONSIBLE FOR NORTH
KOREA, KATHI ZELLWEGER, REPORTED THAT THE HUMANITARIAN
CRISIS IN THE COUNTRY IS NOT OVER. PEOPLE ARE CHRONICALLY
HUNGRY AND LACK BASIC NECESSITIES. TO HELP REDUCE HUMAN
SUFFERING IN NORTH KOREA, ZELLWEGER SUGGESTED THAT CARITAS
INTENDS TO FOCUS ON UNDERSTANDING THE ENVIRONMENT, WORKING
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL PEOPLE, BUILDING LONG-TERM
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 VATICA 03637 01 OF 02 250608Z
RELATIONSHIPS, AND PROVIDING TRAINING AND TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFERS.


3. (SBU) ACCORDING TO ZELLWEGER, HUMAN RIGHTS AND
INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS AND REFUGEES ALONG THE CHINESE
BORDER ARE ISSUES TO BE TAKEN UP IN THE FUTURE BY CARITAS.
ALTHOUGH EXACT FIGURES ARE UNKNOWN, SHE BELIEVES THERE ARE
SOME 50,000 REFUGEES LIVING IN THE BORDER ZONE WITH CHINA.

ZELLWEGER SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THOSE
CROSSING THE BORDER TO ACCESS FOOD AND MEDICINES WITH THE
INTENTION OF RETURNING AND THOSE WHO REALLY WANT TO LEAVE
NORTH KOREA. SHE SAID THERE IS LITTLE INFORMATION ON HUMAN
RIGHTS ABUSES.

--------------
ADVOCACY - THE WAY OF THE FUTURE
--------------


4. (SBU) CARITAS INTERNATIONALIS BELIEVES ADVOCACY WORK ON
NORTH KOREA COULD HELP BRING THE COUNTRY FURTHER INTO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT - TO "OPEN UP THE DOOR" - BY RAISING
PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ENSURING HUMANITARIAN AID CONTINUES.
VATICAN MFA REPRESENTATIVES ATTENDING THE CI NORTH KOREA
COUNTRY GROUP MEETING SPOKE OF THE NEED TO CONVINCE DONORS
AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO WORK
WITH NORTH KOREAN AUTHORITIES AND THAT HUMANITARIAN AID
REACHES THOSE IN NEED. TWO PROPOSALS EMERGED FROM THE
MEETING:

-- TO CARRY OUT ADVOCACY WORK FOR NORTH KOREA, APPEALING TO
THE U.S., SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND
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PAGE 04 VATICA 03637 01 OF 02 250608Z
AUSTRALIA TO INCREASE FOOD AID SO CARITAS CAN CONCENTRATE
ITS RESOURCES ON HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS.
APPEALS WOULD COME FROM CARITAS' NORTH KOREA COUNTRY GROUP
MEMBERS OR ITS RECENTLY ENGAGED REPRESENTATIVE AT THE UN IN
NEW YORK. (COMMENT: THERE IS INTERNAL OPPOSITION TO CARITAS
INTERNATIONALIS APPEALING DIRECTLY TO GOVERNMENTS FOR FOOD
AID BECAUSE OF DISAGREEMENT AMONG CONFEDERATION MEMBERS OVER
THE URGENCY OF THE NORTH KOREA APPEAL. END COMMENT).

-- TO PROVIDE THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS WITH A HISTORY OF
CARITAS INVOLVEMENT IN NORTH KOREA -- HIGHLIGHTING ITS
ABILITY TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT -- AS WELL AS STRESSING
CONCERN FOR THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION THERE.

--------------
HOLY SEE'S RELATIONS WITH NORTH KOREA
--------------


5. (SBU) VATICAN DFM CELESTINO MIGLIORE TOLD THE MEETING
THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NORTH KOREA IS "COMPLETELY
UNDERGROUND." THE VATICAN HAS NO CONTACT WITH ITS MEMBERS,
HE SAID, BUT IT DOES EXIST. MIGLIORE SAID THAT THE NUMBER
OF CATHOLICS AND CHRISTIANS CAN ONLY BE ESTIMATED, BUT THE
CHURCH SURVIVES, ALBEIT WITHOUT THE LEADERSHIP OF PRIESTS

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ4240

PAGE 01 VATICA 03637 02 OF 02 231503Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CA-01 CIAE-00
C-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EAP-00 FBIE-00
UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01
L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OCS-03 OES-01
OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PER-00 PM-00 PRS-00
ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00
TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 R-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00
DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /014W
-------------- CF17DB 231507Z /38
R 231501Z JUL 02
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO AMEMBASSY SEOUL
AMCONSUL HONG KONG

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 003637

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT. EUR/WE (MENNUTI); EAP/K, DRL/IRF
DEPT. PLEASE PASS USAID ANE AND BHR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EAID KN KS PREL EAID KN KS VT VTPGOV
SUBJECT: AID AND ADVOCACY FOR NORTH KOREA - VATICAN AGENCY
SEEKS MORE DONORS, INCREASED CONTACTS

AND BISHOPS. WHILE THE NORTH KOREAN CONSTITUTION ALLOWS FOR
FREEDOM OF RELIGION, MIGLIORE STATED THAT THERE IS NO REAL
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PAGE 02 VATICA 03637 02 OF 02 231503Z
FREEDOM OF WORSHIP. THERE IS AN OFFICIAL "CATHOLIC
ASSOCIATION", BUT MIGLIORE SAID THIS SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED
WITH THE "TRUE CHURCH" (I.E., LOYAL TO ROME) AND NEITHER THE
VATICAN NOR CARITAS CONSIDER ITS ADHERENTS AS INTERLOCUTORS.


6. (SBU) THE HOLY SEE RESPONDED TO THE FIRST HUMANITARIAN
APPEAL FOR AID TO NORTH KOREAN IN 1996 WITH A DIRECT
DONATION TO THE CARITAS FUND. IN 1997, CARITAS PROVIDED
FOOD AND CLOTHING AS A WAY FOR THE HOLY SEE TO "KEEP A FOOT
IN THE DOOR." MIGLIORE SAID THAT, LIKE CARITAS, THE VATICAN
NEEDS MORE CONTACT WITH THE NORTH KOREANS IN ORDER TO
IMPROVE RELATIONS. THE NEW NORTH KOREAN AMBASSADOR TO ITALY
AND TO THE UN'S FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION IN ROME
HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH MAKING CONTACT WITH THE HOLY SEE.
MIGLIORE NOTED THAT BOTH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SOUTH KOREA
NEEDED TO WORK OUT WAYS TO ENGAGE NORTH KOREA AND EMPHASIZED
THAT PROPER SUPPORT MUST BE GIVEN TO SOUTH KOREA FOR THIS
WORK. THE VATICAN'S MISSIONARY AGENCY HEAD, CARDINAL
CRESCENZIO SEPE, SAID DURING A JULY 4 VISIT TO SOUTH KOREA
THAT THE HOLY SEE WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE NORTH KOREA AT THE
"NON DIPLOMATIC" LEVEL. SEPE SPOKE OF MISSIONARY EFFORTS
FOR NORTH KOREA TO ENHANCE ITS MORAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
GROWTH AND TASKED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE SOUTH WITH THIS
WORK.

--------------
SOUTH KOREA AS GO BETWEEN?
--------------


7. (SBU) CARITAS INTERNATIONALIS OFFICIALS ALSO REVIEWED
THE ROLE OF ITS SOUTH KOREA MEMBER ORGANIZATION IN PROVIDING
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 VATICA 03637 02 OF 02 231503Z
AID TO THE NORTH. AT PRESENT CARITAS SOUTH KOREA SENDS AID
TO NORTH KOREA VIA THE CARITAS CONFEDERATION HEADQUARTERS IN
VATICAN CITY. OTHERWISE THE MAIN CHANNEL FOR AID FROM THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SOUTH KOREA IS THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR
RECONCILIATION OF THE KOREAN PEOPLE. IN THE PAST, CI HAS
ASKED CARITAS SOUTH KOREA TO TAKE ON THE AID LIAISON ROLE
FOR NORTH KOREA - A POSITION CURRENTLY HELD BY CARITAS HONG
KONG. CARITAS SOUTH KOREA CITES POLITICAL REASONS FOR NOT
BEING IN A POSITION TO ACCEPT THE CHARGE. IT WANTS THE
CURRENT STRUCTURE MAINTAINED, WITH CARITAS HONG KONG GIVEN A
THREE TO FIVE YEAR MANDATE -- IN EXPECTATION OF A GRADUALLY
SUNNIER POLITICAL SITUATION BETWEEN SOUTH AND NORTH KOREA.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


8. (SBU) POST EXPECTS CARITAS AND THE HOLY SEE TO CONTINUE
TO SEEK AS CLOSE CONTACT WITH NORTH KOREA AS FEASIBLE.
HOWEVER, WHILE CARITAS WILL PURSUE THE MOST EFFECTIVE
RESPONSE TO AN ON-GOING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, THE HOLY SEE
WILL SIMULTANEOUSLY WORK TO SHORE UP ITS INTERESTS IN THE
COMMUNIST STATE, IN PARTICULAR ITS DESIRE TO RE-ESTABLISH
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WITH A FORMAL LEADERSHIP OF PRIESTS AND
BISHOPS. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SOUTH KOREA WILL BE THE
LIKELY SOURCE OF NEW PERSONNEL. REGULAR MEETINGS IN VATICAN
CITY OF CARITAS' NORTH KOREA COUNTRY GROUP WILL PROVIDE
EMBASSY WITH A CONTINUING SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON THE
HUMANITARIAN, POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS SITUATION IN THE DPRK.
NICHOLSON

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 VATICA 03637 02 OF 02 231503Z

UNCLASSIFIED

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2002VATICA03637 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED