HOLY SEE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF SEPARATE OSCE

UNCLAS VATICAN 005836

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR EUR/RPM AD EUR/WE (MENNUTI)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM VT OSCE
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF SEPARATE OSCE
ANTI-SEMITISM MEETING

REF: A) STATE 228101 B) USOSCE 1433 C) STATE 239512


1. (SBU) POLOFF REVIEWED REFS (A) AND (B) DISCUSSION OF A
SPECIAL SESSION ON ANTI-SEMITISM NOVEMBER 16 WITH VATICAN
OSCE DIRECTOR MONS. ETTORE BALESTRERO, FOCUSING ON THE NEED
FOR A STAND-ALONE MEETING TO DISCUSS ANTI-SEMITISM.
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 VATICA 05836 040931Z
BALESTRERO SAID THE HOLY SEE SHARED THE USG'S CONCERNS AND
INDICATED HE WOULD UNDERTAKE TO SEE HOW THE HOLY SEE OSCE
DELEGATION MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE U.S.


2. (SBU) DCM FOLLOWED UP WITH VATICAN DFM CELESTINO MIGLIORE
NOVEMBER 25, DEPLOYING REF (C) POINTS AND EMPHASIZING THE
IMPORTANCE THE USG ATTACHED TO HAVING A SEPARATE OSCE MEETING
DEVOTED TO ANTI-SEMITISM. MIGLIORE RESPONDED THAT THE HOLY
SEE WAS "HESITANT" TO ACCEPT THIS PROPOSAL, "NOT BECAUSE WE
ARE NOT CONVINCED OF THE NEED TO COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM."
RATHER, THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT IF THE OSCE WERE TO HOLD A
SPECIAL SESSION ON ANTI-SEMITISM, THE OSCE WOULD HAVE TO
EXPLAIN WHY IT WAS NOT HOLDING SPECIAL SESSIONS ON THE ROMA,
SINTI, AND OTHER GROUPS FACING RACISM OR XENOPHOBIA. HE FELT
THIS WOULD DILUTE THE STATEMENT CONDEMNING DISCRIMINATION
THAT WOULD COME OUT OF OPORTO. THE PROBLEM, MIGLIORE
REITERATED, WAS THAT "SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS SAY THAT THEIR
SPECIFIC PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT, AND WE WILL INEVITABLY
DISAPPOINT SOME GROUP."


3. (SBU) DCM RESPONDED THAT THE USG REGARDS ANTI-SEMITISM AS
A UNIQUE HISTORICAL PROBLEM THAT MERITS STAND-ALONE
TREATMENT. MOREOVER, WE BELIEVE THAT SUCH TREATMENT WOULD
STRENGTHEN THE OSCE'S ABILITY TO DEAL WITH OTHER FORMS OF
RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA. MIGLIORE RESPONDED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD
THAT THE OPPOSITION TO A SPECIAL SESSION FOR ANTI-SEMITISM
WAS WIDELY SHARED BY MANY DELEGATIONS, AND THAT HE FOUND IT
WELL-GROUNDED. HE REITERATED HIS VIEW THAT THE OPORTO
STATEMENT WOULD BE STRONGER IF IT REMAINED ON A MORE GENERAL
LEVEL.

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 VATICA 05836 040931Z

4. (SBU) DCM REPEATED THAT THE U.S. STRONGLY BELIEVED THE
ISSUE SHOULD BE SPECIFICALLY RAISED IN OPORTO AND STRONGLY
FAVORED A SUBSEQUENT SEPARATE MEETING. HE URGED MIGLIORE TO
KEEP AN OPEN MIND, AND TO WORK WITH OUR DELEGATION IN VIENNA
AND OPORTO TO ACHIEVE AGREEMENT.

NICHOLSON

UNCLASSIFIED

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2002VATICA05836 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED