VATICAN AND QATAR ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

UNCLAS VATICAN 005640

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI); NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PREL QA VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN AND QATAR ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS



1. THE HOLY SEE ANNOUNCED NOVEMBER 18 THAT IT HAS
ESTABLISHED FORMAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH QATAR. THE
HOLY SEE WILL BE REPRESENTED AT THE LEVEL OF NUNCIO AND
QATAR BY AN AMBASSADOR. THE HOLY SEE HAS DIPLOMATIC
RELATIONS WITH MOST MOSLEM STATES WITH THE GLARING EXCEPTION
OF SAUDI ARABIA, OMAN, AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. IT
ALSO HAS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE ARAB LEAGUE AND THE
PALESTINIAN LIBERATION ORGANIZATION.

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 VATICA 05640 201030Z

2. QATAR'S CATHOLIC POPULATION NUMBERS AROUND 45,000 -
MOSTLY MIGRANT WORKERS FROM THE PHILIPPINES - SUPPORTED BY 8
PRIESTS WHO ALSO WORK IN YEMEN, SAUDI ARABIA, BAHRAIN, THE
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, AND OMAN.


3. COMMENT: THE HOLY SEE CONTINUES TO SEEK TO INTENSIFY
ITS DIALOGUE WITH ISLAMIC STATES, PRIMARILY TO ENSURE
ADEQUATE PASTORAL CARE FOR RESIDENT CATHOLICS. IN THE WAKE
OF 9/11, HOWEVER, THE DIALOGUE HAS TAKEN ON GREATER URGENCY
AS THE POPE AND HIS COLLABORATORS WORK TO AVOID A "CLASH OF
CIVILIZATIONS" BETWEEN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY, AND BETWEEN
THE ARAB WORLD AND THE WEST. END COMMENT.

NICHOLSON

UNCLASSIFIED

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2002VATICA05640 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED