VATICAN ON UNGA PRIORITIES

UNCLAS VATICAN 004247 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI),IO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECON EAID EAGR SENV SOCI VT SUBJECT: VATICAN ON UNGA PRIORITIES REF: A) STATE 146035 B) VATICAN 4217 ¶1. AT THE END OF A LONG ROMAN AUGUST WITH FEW HOLY SEE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 VATICA 04247 031213Z DESK OFFICERS IN TOWN, POLOFF WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY A DESK OFFICER ABLE TO ACCEPT REF A DEMARCHE ON UNGA PRIORITIES. MONSIGNOR OSVALDO NEVES, STANDING IN SINCE AUGUST 26 FOR OUTGOING VATICAN DESKOFF WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR UN AFFAIRS, RECEIVED REFTEL POINTS WITH LITTLE SUBSTANTIVE COMMENT. HE INDICATED THAT HE WILL TAKE HIS LEAD FROM HOLY SEE PERMANENT OBSERVER ARCHBISHOP MARTINO IN PREPARING THE HOLY SEE'S POSITIONS FOR THE UNGA. THE LATTER IS CURRENTLY LEADING THE HOLY SEE DELEGATION AT THE WSSD IN JOHANNESBURG. ¶2. NEVES HAD REVIEWED THE TALKING POINTS WE HAD FAXED, AND COMMENTED THAT THE HOLY SEE WOULD BE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN COLLABORATING ON OUR THIRD POINT REGARDING A "NEW PARTNERSHIP" BETWEEN DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. (NOTE: OUR VIEWS TRACK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE HOLY SEE'S EMPHASIS ON "SOLIDARITY," WHICH IMPLIES ASSISTANCE FOR GREATER CAPACITY BUILDING IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, END NOTE.) THROUGHOUT THE UNGA, AS AT THE CURRENT WSSD (REF B) THE HOLY SEE WILL FOLLOW ITS LEITMOTIF THAT "PEOPLE COME FIRST" IN ASSESSING ITS SUPPORT FOR U.S. POSITIONS. NICHOLSON UNCLASSIFIED > 2002VATICA04247 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED