VATICAN PUTS PEOPLE FIRST AT SUSTAINABLE

UNCLAS VATICAN 004217 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI),IO DEPT. PLS PASS IO COLLECTIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECON EAID EAGR SENV SOCI VT SUBJECT: VATICAN PUTS PEOPLE FIRST AT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT ¶1. "PEOPLE COME FIRST" WILL BE THE LEITMOTIF FOR THE VATICAN DELEGATION AT THE WORLD SUMMIT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. IN AN AUGUST 25 MESSAGE FROM HIS SUMMER RETREAT AT CASTELGANDOLFO, POPE JOHN PAUL II WISHED SUMMIT DELEGATES UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 VATICA 04217 300908Z SUCCESS "IN FINDING EFFECTIVE WAYS FOR AN INTEGRAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, KEEPING IN MIND THE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DIMENSION. THE POPE DESCRIBED THE WORLD AS "INCREASINGLY INTERDEPENDENT" AND SAID WE HAVE A DIVINE CALL TO CULTIVATE AND PROTECT THE EARTH, ITS PEOPLE AND RESOURCES. HE EMPHASIZED THAT PEACE, JUSTICE AND THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT CAN ONLY BE THE FRUIT OF COMMON EFFORT BY ALL HUMANITY - RICH AND POOR. ¶2. THE HOLY SEE DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY ARCHBISHOP RENATO MARTINO, THE HOLY SEE'S PERMANENT OBSERVER TO THE UNITED NATIONS. ARCHBISHOP MARTINO TOLD REPORTERS AUGUST 26 THAT THE FIRST PRINCIPLE OF THE RIO DECLARATION -- HUMAN BEINGS ARE AT THE CENTER OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CONCERNS -- WOULD BE THE BASIS FOR HIS DELEGATION'S PARTICIPATION IN JOHANNESBURG. THE RIO DOCUMENT'S INSISTENCE ON THE PRIMACY OF THE PERSON IN DEVELOPMENT ISSUES WAS, ACCORDING TO MARTINO, A KEY HOLY SEE OBJECTIVE AT THAT MEETING. (COMMENT: IN PRACTICAL TERMS FOR JOHANNESBURG THIS IMPLIES THAT THE HOLY SEE WILL NOT BE WEDDED TO ANY PARTICULAR STRATEGY, PARTNERSHIP, BENCHMARK OR DEADLINE UNLESS IT PROMOTES THE VATICAN'S TRADITIONAL PRIORITY OF THE VALUE OF THE HUMAN PERSON, FAMILY, AND SOCIETY. END COMMENT). ¶3. IN A PAPER PREPARED FOR THE PREPARATORY MEETINGS LEADING UP TO THE WSSD, THE HOLY SEE HIGHLIGHTED AS ITS PRIORITIES POVERTY ERADICATION, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATION, BASIC HEALTH CARE, AND ADEQUATE SHELTER. THEY ALSO SUPPORT "NEW PATTERNS OF CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION" BASED ON ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IN WHICH THE HUMAN PERSON RECOGNIZES HIS OR HER RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP ORDER THE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 VATICA 04217 300908Z WORLD. MARTINO SIGNALED VATICAN CONCERN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE RESPONSIBLE APPROACH TO MANAGING THE WORLD'S WATER RESOURCES, AND WILL SUPPORT INITIATIVES AIMED AT ENSURING ADEQUATE SUPPLIES OF DRINKING WATER. ¶4. THE HOLY SEE'S VIEWS ON PROMOTING GOOD GOVERNANCE TRACK CLOSELY WITH U.S. PERSPECTIVES. THEIR PREPARATORY PAPER HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, PARTICULARLY IN REGARD TO FIGHTING CORRUPTION, PROMOTING GREATER DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, ESTABLISHING WELL-FUNCTIONING BUREAUCRACIES AND REGULATORY SYSTEMS, ENFORCING LAWS, AND PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS. THEY CONCLUDE THAT "THE LACK OF STABLE INSTITUTIONS AND SOUND POLICIES ARE OFTEN A CAUSE OF POVERTY, ONES THAT EVEN INCREASED LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE CANNOT OVERCOME. CORRUPTION MUST BE CONSIDERED A SCANDAL AND A MAJOR IMPEDIMENT TO DEVELOPMENT." NICHOLSON NOTE: NOT PASSED TO ABOVE ADDRESSEE(S) UNCLASSIFIED > 2002VATICA04217 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED