ASSISTANT SECRETARY JONES JULY 17 VATICAN MEETINGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 VATICAN 003387

SIPDIS


DEPT. FOR EUR A/S JONES, EUR/WE MENNUTI, NEA, AF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2013
TAGS: PREL PHUM ECON TU VT XA RS
SUBJECT: ASSISTANT SECRETARY JONES JULY 17 VATICAN MEETINGS

REF: VATICAN 3185

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON, REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND (D).

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) VATICAN ACTING FM MONSIGNOR PIETRO PAROLIN TOLD A/S
BETH JONES JULY 17 THAT THE HOLY SEE WAS FIRMLY BEHIND THE
ROAD MAP, AND HAD APPEALED TO ISRAELI FM SHALOM TO REFRAIN
FROM RETALIATION. A/S JONES URGED THE HOLY SEE TO HELP
STRENGTHEN ABU MAZEN'S POSITION. THE HOLY SEE REITERATED ITS
CONCERN FOR THE POSITION OF CATHOLICS IN IRAQ AND URGED THAT
THE U.S. DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENHANCE THE SECURITY
SITUATION. A/S JONES REVIEWED PRESIDENT BUSH'S AFRICA TRIP,
EMPHASIZING HIS FOCUS ON HIV/AIDS AND BIOTECH FOODS. THE
HOLY SEE NOTED THAT IT WAS INTENSIFYING ITS COLLABORATION
WITH THE UN IN AFRICA, WHILE THE SANT' EGIDIO COMMUNITY
REVIEWED ITS EFFORTS TO SECURE USG FUNDING FOR ITS
ANTI-RETROVIRAL PROGRAM IN MOZAMBIQUE. A/S JONES EMPHASIZED
U.S. SUPPORT FOR TURKEY'S ENTRY TO THE EU, WHICH THE HOLY SEE
INDICATED IT WOULD NOT OPPOSE ONCE TURKEY HAD MADE GREATER
PROGRESS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. PAROLIN INDICTED THAT THE
SITUATION OF CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN RUSSIA WAS IMPROVING, EXCEPT
FOR A REQUIREMENT FOR VISA RENEWAL EVERY THREE MONTHS. END
SUMMARY.

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HOLY SEE BEHIND ROAD MAP
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2. (C) MEETING JULY 17 AT THE VATICAN WITH ACTING FM
MONSIGNOR PIETRO PAROLIN AND IN ROME WITH SANT' EGIDIO
COMMUNITY LEADERS, A/S JONES EMPHASIZED THAT SECRETARY POWELL
DEPENDED ON THE HOLY SEE'S MORAL AUTHORITY TO HELP PRODUCE
RESULTS IN KEY AREAS SUCH AS THE MIDDLE EAST AND IRAQ, AS
WELL AS ON GLOBAL ISSUES SUCH AS HIV/AIDS, TRAFFICKING IN
PERSONS, AND BIOTECH FOODS. PAROLIN COMMENTED THAT SECRETARY
POWELL'S JUNE 2 MEETING WITH THE POPE AND SECRETARY OF STATE
SODANO HAD BEEN "FRUITFUL" AND MUCH APPRECIATED IN THE
VATICAN.


3. (C) SINCE THE SECRETARY'S DISCUSSIONS ON THE SITUATION IN
THE MIDDLE EAST, A/S JONES NOTED THAT MUCH HAD BEEN DONE TO
MOVE THE PROCESS FORWARD. WITH ABU MAZEN BEING INVITED TO
THE WHITE HOUSE, FOLLOWED BY A VISIT BY PM SHARON, A JOINT
MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO LEADERS, AND SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS IN
EGYPT AND SAUDI ARABIA, JONES OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS SOME
MOMENTUM BEHIND THE PEACE PROCESS. TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THIS, ABU MAZEN NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO SHOW RESULTS TO SHORE UP
HIS POSITION INTERNALLY. SHE EMPHASIZED THAT THE SECRETARY
WAS LOOKING TO THE HOLY SEE TO HELP BUILD UP ABU MAZEN SO HE
HAS THE AUTHORITY HE NEEDS TO MAKE AGREEMENTS WITH SHARON FOR
PEACE. PAROLIN INDICATED THAT HE HAD RECENTLY MET WITH
ISRAELI FM SILVAN SHALOM AND HAD EMPHASIZED TWO POINTS: THE
HOLY SEE'S SUPPORT FOR THE ROAD MAP AND THE NEED TO BUILD A
CONFIDENT ATMOSPHERE BETWEEN THE PARTIES. IN THIS REGARD,
THE HOLY SEE HAD APPEALED TO THE ISRAELIS TO "REFRAIN FROM
RETALIATION" IN ORDER TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE.
SHALOM'S RESPONSE WAS SIMPLY TO REITERATE THAT "SECURITY IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO US."


4. (C) SANT' EGIDIO'S LEADERSHIP TOLD A/S JONES THAT THEY HAD
JUST RETURNED FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, WHERE THEY HAD MET WITH
BOTH ABU MAZEN AND SHARON. SANT' EGIDIO'S BETTI LAMENTED
THAT CATHOLIC PALESTINIAN PATRIARCH MICHAEL SABBAH WAS NOT
YET BEHIND ABU MAZEN, BUT SAID THEY HAD ENCOURAGED HIM TO
EMBRACE MAZEN, WHO, UNLIKE ARAFAT, CAN DELIVER ON HIS
PROIF2FQGQOQL.AGC%QJQY+~XL&#}FQZ^QFI"QQ/4JQME 4QQQQA9Q&@ENUCXQ|I4ZSNWQW `NQXQ{]+\XQ":#3Q}UU=Q"QA8D]Q/\Q`S%PZVKQU8MK*. >Q-Q|`Q# --------------
FOCUS ON AFRICA: HIV/AIDS AND BIOTECH FOODS
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7. (SBU) A/S JONES REVIEWED FOR PAROLIN AND SANT' EGIDIO THE
PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO AFRICA, NOTING THAT IT HAD GENERATED
GREATER INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION FOR U.S. EFFORTS TO MEET THE
CHALLENGE OF HIV/AIDS AND TO USE THE PROMISE OF BIOTECH FOODS
TO MEET THE CONTINENT'S NUTRITION NEEDS. JONES EMPHASIZED
THAT AFRICA HAS BEEN A CONTINUING PRIORITY FOR THE PRESIDENT,
WHO RECOGNIZED EARLY ON THAT HIV/AIDS WAS WIPING OUT WHOLE
GENERATIONS OF TEACHERS, FARMERS, HEALTH WORKERS AND OTHER
KEY SECTORS OF PEOPLE ESSENTIAL TO AFRICA'S DEVELOPMENT.
PAROLIN WELCOMED THIS ATTENTION, OBSERVING THAT THE HOLY SEE
VIEWS AFRICA AS A "FORGOTTEN CONTINENT" AND CONTINUES TO
ADVOCATE FOR GREATER INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENT. FOR ITS PART,
THE HOLY SEE HAS INTENSIFIED ITS COLLABORATION WITH THE UN ON
AFRICA FOLLOWING A FEBRUARY MEETING BETWEEN KOFI ANNAN AND
THE POPE. SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VATICAN'S
DICASTRIES (MINISTRY EQUIVALENTS) ARE MEETING NOW TO DEVELOP
SPECIFIC INITIATIVES FOR THIS NEW COLLABORATION, PAROLIN
INDICATED.


8. (SBU) REGARDING BIOTECH FOODS, PAROLIN TOLD A/S JONES THAT
THE HOLY SEE WAS "BUILDING A POSITION" AND HOPED TO BE ABLE
TO ARRIVE AT A CLEAR VIEW THAT COULD BE SHARED WITH BISHOPS
AND NUNCIOS. FOR THE TIME BEING, HE SAID THE HOLY SEE WAS
"NOT AGAINST, AND NOT IN FAVOR." AT THE SAME TIME, THE
VATICAN RECOGNIZED THE MORAL IMPORTANCE OF FEEDING THE
HUNGRY, AND WAS CONSIDERING AN INTERIM POSITION THAT WOULD
EMPHASIZE THE SAFETY OF FOODS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, WHILE
RESERVING JUDGMENT ON AGRICULTURAL USES UNTIL THEY HAD
EXAMINED THE ISSUE MORE CLOSELY. A/S JONES SAID THE U.S. HAS
FOCUSED ON BIOTECH FOODS IN TERMS OF THE BENEFITS THEY COULD
BRING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ABSOLUTELY DESPERATE. SHE ADDED THAT
WE "CAN'T IMAGINE WHY SUCH FOOD SHOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE TO
PEOPLE WHO WANT IT, AND WHY SUCH TECHNOLOGY SHOULD NOT BE
AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO GROW BIOTECH CROPS." PAROLIN
SAID IT APPEARED TO THE HOLY SEE THAT THE EU WAS SOFTENING
ITS POSITION, AND A/S JONES SAID WE WERE PRESSING THE EU TO
EASE UP ON ITS RESTRICTIONS. AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON EMPHASIZED
THAT THE KEY QUESTION THAT ALL PARTIES NEEDED TO REFLECT ON
WAS WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM DYING OF
HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION-RELATED DISEASE.


9. (SBU) A/S JONES EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR THE HOLY SEE'S
AND SANT' EGIDIO'S ONGOING WORK TO PREVENT AND TREAT
HIV/AIDS. SANT' EGIDIO'S BETTI OUTLINED THE COMMUNITY'S
ANTI-RETROVIRAL TREATMENT PROGRAM IN MOZAMBIQUE, WHICH HE
EMPHASIZED WAS EXACTLY IN LINE WITH THE PRESIDENT'S EMERGENCY
FUND GOALS. HE WELCOMED RECENT INDICATIONS OF SUPPORT THAT
SANT' EGIDIO HAD RECEIVED FOR THE PROJECT FROM HHS SECRETARY
TOMMY THOMPSON AND U/S DOBRIANSKY DURING RECENT MEETINGS.
BETTI CAUTIONED THAT THE U.S. WAS LIKELY TO RUN INTO A STRONG
HEADWIND FROM MANY RECIPIENT COUNTRIES, WHO WILL WANT TO USE
THE NEW FUND FOR EVERYTHING EXCEPT TREATMENT -- WHICH THEY
CONSIDER TOO EXPENSIVE. RECOGNIZING THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER,
BETTI POINTED OUT THAT HIV/AIDS SHOULD BE SEEN NOT ONLY AS A
PROBLEM, BUT ALSO AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESHAPE AFRICAN HEALTH
SYSTEMS. BETTI INFORMED A/S JONES THAT SANT' EGIDIO WAS
PREPARING A CONFERENCE AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY THIS FALL
AIMED AT BUILDING SUPPORT FOR THE MEDICAL CASE FOR TREATMENT
AND EXPLORING BEST WAYS TO APPROACH THIS TASK. JONES
WELCOMED SANT' EGIDIO'S INITIATIVE, AND URGED THAT THE

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* Missing Section 002 *
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VATICAN 00003387 003 OF 004

DINATOR RANDALL TOBIAS.
SHE PLEDGED TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH INFORMATION ON HOW
BEST TO LINK UP WITH TOBIAS.

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TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
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10. (SBU) POINTING OUT THAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS WAS BOTH
A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE AND ONE OF BORDER SECURITY, A/S JONES
REVIEWED U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THIS
SCOURGE, INCLUDING THE PRODUCTIVE FOCUS DURING THE DUTCH OSCE
PRESIDENCY. PAROLIN EMPHASIZED THE VATICAN'S SUPPORT FOR
ANTI-TRAFFICKING INITIATIVES, NOTING THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY
ENGAGED WITH THE COUNCIL FOR EUROPE, WHICH IS ESTABLISHING A
WORKING GROUP TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE. PAROLIN INDICATED THAT
THE VATICAN WAS LIKELY TO APPOINT A WOMAN TO HEAD THEIR
DELEGATION AS A SIGN OF THEIR RECOGNITION OF THE
DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT TRAFFICKING HAS ON WOMEN.

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TURKEY AND THE EU: OVERCOMING RELIGIOUS RESTRICTIONS
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11. (C) RESPONDING TO A RECENT STATEMENT FROM THE HOLY SEE'S
FOREIGN MINISTER THAT WAS SEEN AS RAISING DOUBTS ABOUT
TURKEY'S FITNESS FOR EU MEMBERSHIP, A/S JONES SAID THE U.S.
VIEWED TURKEY AS WANTING A EUROPEAN FUTURE. THE NEW
GOVERNMENT HAD GIVEN PRIORITY TO PASSING NEW LEGISLATION THAT
WILL ALLOW TURKEY TO MEET EU CRITERIA, SHE POINTED OUT, AND
THE CHALLENGE NOW WAS TO ENSURE IMPLEMENTATION. HERE, TOO,
SHE NOTED, WE HAD SEEN TURKEY TAKE POSITIVE STEPS. PAROLIN
ASKED WHETHER THE U.S. WAS CONVINCED TURKEY WANTS TO BE IN
THE EU, OBSERVING THAT THE HOLY SEE HAD HEARD SUGGESTIONS
THAT THIS WAS A "FACADE." JONES SAID SHE HAD NEVER HEARD
SUCH A SUGGESTION AND THAT ALL THE INDICATIONS WE HAD FROM
TURKEY REFLECTED A GENUINE COMMITMENT TO EU MEMBERSHIP.
PAROLIN AFFIRMED THE HOLY SEE'S POSITION THAT THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY "MUST HELP TURKEY," AND STRESSED THAT
THE VATICAN WAS "NOT AGAINST TURKEY'S ENTRY TO THE EU."
NEVERTHELESS, THEY BELIEVED TURKEY HAD TO MEET THE EU'S
CRITERIA ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND IMPLEMENT
THEM. "SO FAR," HE ADDED, " THE STEPS TAKEN ARE NOT ENOUGH."
A/S JONES ASKED PAROLIN WHETHER THE HOLY SEE HAD A GOOD
DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY ON THESE ISSUES. HE RESPONDED THAT
THERE WAS A GOOD DIALOGUE, IN WHICH THE HOLY SEE HAD INVOLVED
EU MEMBERS, BUT THAT TURKEY HAD REACTED NEGATIVELY ON KEY
ISSUES. SPECIFICALLY, PAROLIN NOTED THAT THE CHURCH HAD NO
JURIDICAL STANDING, AND WAS NOT ALLOWED TO OWN PROPERTY.
WHILE THERE IS FREEDOM OF WORSHIP, TURKEY DOES NOT ALLOW FOR
FREE RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION IN PUBLIC. A/S JONES ENCOURAGED
THE HOLY SEE TO CONTINUE TO PRESS THEIR CONCERNS, POINTING
OUT THAT WE, TOO, OFTEN HAD TO OVERCOME NEGATIVE TURKISH
REACTIONS BEFORE MAKING PROGRESS.

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RUSSIA: SITUATION IMPROVING DESPITE HASSLES
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12. (C) ASKED ABOUT THE SITUATION FOR CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN
RUSSIA THAT HAD PROVOKED A PAPAL LETTER TO PRESIDENT PUTIN
LAST YEAR, PAROLIN INDICATED THAT THE SITUATION WAS MUCH
IMPROVED. RUSSIA IS NOW WILLING TO RECEIVE THE PRIESTS AND
ALLOW THEM TO WORK. THE OUTSTANDING PROBLEM IS THE SHORT
LENGTH OF THE VISAS ISSUED TO THE PRIESTS -- THREE MONTHS --
WHICH THE HOLY SEE REGARDS AS GRATUITOUS BUREAUCRATIC
HASSLING THAT REQUIRES PRIESTS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY ONCE
EVERY THREE MONTHS. THEY ARE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE
GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, AND BELIEVE THEIR NEW
NUNCIO IN MOSCOW HAS MADE PROGRESS IN BUILDING A CONSTRUCTIVE
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES. THE RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, ON THE OTHER HAND, REMAINS
DIFFICULT. THE RUSSIAN PATRIARCH'S ILL HEALTH HAS ALSO MADE
PROGRESS DIFFICULT, AS THE CHURCH IS CURRENTLY IN A HOLDING
PATTERN IN ITS DIALOGUE WITH THE HOLY SEE. A/S JONES NOTED
THAT WE HAVE RAISED HOLY SEE CONCERNS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
ISSUES AT THE POLITICAL LEVEL AND WOULD BE WILLING TO DO SO
IN THE FUTURE IF NECESSARY. PAROLIN WELCOMED THIS
COMMITMENT, AND AGREED TO KEEP THE U.S. APPRISED OF PROGRESS.

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ROMA/SINTI: A BLOT ON EUROPE'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD
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13. (SBU) SANT' EGIDIO OUTLINED TO A/S JONES ITS DECADES-LONG
ENGAGEMENT ON BEHALF OF ROMA AND SINTI, PARTICULARLY IN
ITALY. CLAUDIO BETTI SAID THAT ITALY'S TREATMENT OF ITS ROMA
COMMUNITY REPRESENTED A MAJOR HUMAN RIGHTS EMBARRASSMENT, ONE
IT SHARED WITH OTHER WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. HE NOTED
THAT ITALY'S ROMA AND SINTI LIVE WITHOUT WATER AND
SANITATION, THEIR CHILDREN DO NOT ATTEND SCHOOL, AND THEY ARE

VATICAN 00003387 004 OF 004

I URGED THE U.S. TO
ENGAGE ITS EUROPEAN PARTNERS ON BEHALF OF THE ROMA AND SINTI,
CALL ATTENTION TO THIS HUMAN RIGHTS GAP, AND ENCOURAGE THE
EUROPEANS TO ADOPT NEW LAWS AND MEASURES TO OVERCOME THE
CURRENT DESPERATE SITUATION FOR THE ROMA IN ITALY AND
ELSEWHERE IN EUROPE.

NICHOLSON

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2003VATICA03387 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL