POPE CALLS ON WORLD NOT TO FORGET GREAT LAKES

UNCLAS VATICAN 001747 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CF CG PHUM PREL RW UG VT SUBJECT: POPE CALLS ON WORLD NOT TO FORGET GREAT LAKES CONFLICT REF: VATICAN 01329 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) DURING HIS WEEKLY WEDNESDAY AUDIENCE IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE APRIL 9, POPE JOHN PAUL II URGED THE WORLD TO NOT FORGET THE VIOLENT AND CONTINUING CONFLICT IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION OF AFRICA, AND CALLED ON LEADERS TO RETURN TO THE PEACE PROCESS. VATICAN OFFICIALS HAD PASSED EMBASSY A PRO-MEMORIA ON MARCH 24 SEEKING U.S. SUPPORT IN STOPPING THE VIOLENCE IN THE ITURI REGION OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND MAKING PROGRESS IN THE PEACE PROCESS (REFTEL). IN THE FACE OF CONTINUING INTERNATIONAL FOCUS ON IRAQ, THE POPE SOUGHT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE CRISIS IN AFRICA -- A POINT HE REITERATED IN HIS APRIL 20 EASTER MESSAGE. END SUMMARY ¶2. (U) ADDRESSING A GENERAL AUDIENCE APRIL 6 ON THE GREAT LAKES CONFLICT, POPE JOHN PAUL II DIRECTED "A HEARTFELT APPEAL TO THE POLITICIANS IN CHARGE, AS WELL AS TO ALL MEN AND WOMEN OF GOOD WILL, SO THAT THEY COMMIT THEMSELVES TO BRING AN END TO THE VIOLENCE AND ABUSE, PUTTING ASIDE PERSONAL SELFISHNESS AND GROUP INTERESTS, WITH THE ACTIVE COLLABORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY." THE POPE WAS RESPONDING TO REPORTS OF APRIL 6 FROM THE U.N. MISSION IN THE CONGO THAT AROUND 1,000 PEOPLE DIED THE WEEK BEFORE IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE ETHNIC MASSACRES, INCLUDING SUMMARY EXECUTIONS. RECOGNIZING THAT THIS VIOLENCE BROUGHT WITH IT THE POTENTIAL TO REIGNITE MASSIVE ARMED CONFLICT IN THE REGION, THE POPE URGED THAT "EVERY EFFORT AT RECONCILIATION AMONG THE CONGOLESE, UGANDAN AND RWANDAN PEOPLES MUST BE ENCOURAGED...WITH THE HOPE THAT FROM THESE EFFORTS PEACE WHICH IS SO DESIRED, CAN FLOWER." ¶3. (U) IN HIS EASTER MESSAGE, THE POPE FOLLOWED HIS CALL FOR PEACE IN IRAQ WITH A CALL FOR "PEACE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, WHERE FORGOTTEN WARS AND PROTRACTED HOSTILITIES ARE CAUSING DEATHS AND INJURIES AMID SILENCE AND NEGLECT ON THE PART OF CONSIDERABLE SECTORS OF PUBLIC OPINION." HE CAUTIONED THAT THE AFRICAN CONTINENT "CANNOT BE ABANDONED TO ITSELF." -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (SBU) THE VATICAN IS DEEPLY WORRIED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR RENEWED VIOLENCE IN AN ALREADY DEVASTATED REGION. ADDING TO THE POPE'S WORRIES IS THE FEAR THAT THE WAR IN IRAQ HAS TAKEN FOCUS AWAY FROM THE VIOLENT CONFLICT IN AFRICA, AND THAT WITHOUT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S COLLABORATION, A TENUOUS PEACE WILL REVERT TO FURTHER ETHNIC SLAUGHTER. THE POPE'S STRONG PUBLIC STATEMENT REFLECTS THE HOLY SEE'S CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR PEACE IN THE REGION, AND ITS DESIRE TO ENSURE THIS CRISIS IS NOT FORGOTTEN IN THE GLOBAL FOCUS ON IRAQ. NICHOLSON NNNN 2003VATICA01747 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED