HOLY SEE ON U.S. THEMES FOR 58TH UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 003790

SIPDIS


FOR EUR/WE (LEVIN),IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2013
TAGS: AORC PHUM PREL VT UNGA
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE ON U.S. THEMES FOR 58TH UNGA

REF: A. A) STATE 175664


B. B) STATE 206381

CLASSIFIED BY: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, D. BRENT HARDT, REASONS: 1.5 (B) AND
(D).


1. (C) DCM MET WITH HOLY SEE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER PIETRO
PAROLIN AUGUST 20 TO REVIEW U.S. THEMES FOR THE 58TH UNGA
(REFTELS). IN A BRIEF EXCHANGE ON THE SITUATION IN IRAQ,
PAROLIN EXPRESSED SADNESS AT THE RECENT ATTACK, AND WAS
RECEPTIVE TO USG DETERMINATION TO STAY THE COURSE. HE NOTED
OUR POINT THAT IRAQ ISSUES SHOULD REMAIN IN THE SECURITY
COUNCIL. ON SUPPORT FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE, PAROLIN INDICATED
THAT THE HOLY SEE CONTINUES TO STRONGLY SUPPORT U.S. EFFORTS
THROUGH THE ROADMAP. REGARDING OUR CONCERNS REGARDING THE
INSERTION OF REFERENCES TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
(ICC) IN UNRELATED UN RESOLUTIONS, AND OUR MESSAGE ON THE
POTENTIAL FOR UNGA TO ENERGIZE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ON
COUNTERTERRORISM ISSUES, PAROLIN LISTENED ATTENTIVELY AND
TOOK OUR POINTS ON BOARD. HE WAS RECEPTIVE TO THE USG'S
DESIRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTIONS ON THE COUNTRIES
MENTIONED IN REF B, AND MENTIONED THE VATICAN'S PARTICULAR
CONCERN ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN ZIMBABWE.


2. (C) ON ALL ISSUES, PAROLIN NOTED THAT THE HOLY SEE'S
PERMANENT OBSERVER MISSION IN NEW YORK WOULD PLAY A KEY ROLE
IN GUIDING THE HOLY SEE'S APPROACH, AND AGREED TO PASS ALONG
TO THE MISSION THE U.S. PRIORITIES.

HARDT

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2003VATICA03790 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL