HOLY SEE EXPRESSES MORAL SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 002046

SIPDIS


DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI),EAP/TC (KEEGAN AND KINGSLAND)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2013
TAGS: PREL SOCI TBIO CH TW VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE EXPRESSES MORAL SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN'S
PARTICIPATION IN WHO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

REF: HARDT-KEEGAN 4/28 E-MAIL

CLASSIFIED BY: CDA BRENT HARDT FOR REASONS 1.5(B) AND (D)


1. (C) HOLY SEE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER PAROLIN CONTACTED
DCM APRIL 28 TO CONVEY THE VATICAN'S MORAL SUPPORT FOR
TAIWANESE PARTICIPATION IN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION,
WHICH THEY HAVE CAST AS A "HUMANITARIAN ISSUE." PAROLIN
UNDERSTOOD FROM THE TAIWANESE, WHO HAD CALLED ON HIM THAT
DAY, THAT THE TAIWANESE WERE COORDINATING THEIR STRATEGY IN
REGARD TO THE UPCOMING WHO GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN GENEVA WITH
THE U.S., EU AND JAPAN. THE TEXT OF THE HOLY SEE'S PRO
MEMORIA, PREVIOUSLY FAXED TO EAP/TC, FOLLOWS:


2. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF PRO MEMORIA

PARTICIPATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (ROC)
TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (OMS)

THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA TO THE HOLY SEE HAS
PROVIDED THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE WITH THE FOLLOWING
"CONFIDENTIAL" INFORMATION: (NOTE: THIS IS NOT A USG
CLASSIFICATION. A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT WAS FAXED TO
POST VIA UNCLASSIFIED TELEPHONE LINE.)

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, JAPAN AND THE EUROPEAN UNION
AGREE TO HAVE TAIWAN PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. THE THREE POLITICAL ENTITIES ARE
STUDYING THE JURIDICAL-PRACTICAL FORMULA FOR SUCH
PARTICIPATION AND, FOR THIS PURPOSE, ARE HOLDING MEETINGS IN
VIEW OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE O.M.S. SCHEDULED IN
GENEVA ON MAY 19-28, 2003.

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ON ITS OWN,
IS PARTICULARLY ACTIVE IN OBTAINING SUCH RESULT. ON MONDAY,
APRIL 28, A PRIVATE MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE IN WASHINGTON
WITH PROF. KAU YING-MAO, VICE-MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF
TAIWAN, AND OFFICERS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, WITH THE
PURPOSE OF SETTING UP A STRATEGY TO BE ADOPTED ON OCCASION OF
THE FORTHCOMING WORLD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE O.M.S.
PROF. KAU ALREADY EXPLAINED TO THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE
DURING THE 3 APRIL MEETING WITH MONS.PAROLIN, UNDERSECRETARY
FOR RELATIONS WITH STATES, THE POSITION OF HIS OWN GOVERNMENT
CONCERNING THE R.O.C. PARTICIPATION IN THE O.M.S.,S WORKS.

THE SECTION FOR RELATIONS WITH STATES OF THE SECRETARIAT OF
STATE, WISHES TO EXPRESS MORAL SUPPORT TO THE INITIATIVE OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, THINKING THAT IT IS A HUMANITARIAN
ISSUE.

THE PRESENT INFORMATION SHOULD BE DELIVERED AT THE EARLIEST
POSSIBLE TIME TO THE ATTENTION OF MR. DAVID KEEGAN AND MS.
DEBORAH KINGSLAND, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TAIWAN COORDINATION
STAFF OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 28, 2003

END TEXT


3. (C) COMMENT: THE TAIWAN EMBASSY WAS CLEARLY WORKING THIS
COMMUNICATION ACTIVELY, HAVING PHONED EMBASSY POLOFF TO ALERT
HIM BEFORE THE VATICAN CALLED. THEY CITED THE SARS EPIDEMIC
AS A REASON TO MOVE QUICKLY TO BRING TAIWAN INTO THE WHO. THE
HUMANITARIAN FOCUS, TOGETHER WITH THE POTENTIAL SUPPORT OF
THE USG AND OTHER PLAYERS, ALLOWED THE HOLY SEE IN THIS CASE
TO VOICE ITS SUPPORT WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING FUTURE DIALOG WITH
THE PRC ABOUT THE CHURCH'S STATUS IN CHINA. END COMMENT.

HARDT

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2003VATICA02046 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL