HOLY SEE BACKS GOVERNING COUNCIL, RECONSTRUCTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 003847 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/WE LEVIN; NEA/RA; NEA/NGA; DRL/IRF; IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2013 TAGS: IZ PREL PGOV EAID VT SUBJECT: HOLY SEE BACKS GOVERNING COUNCIL, RECONSTRUCTION PROCESS IN IRAQ REF: A. A) STATE 235394 ¶B. B) AUG 22 LEVIN - MARTIN EMAIL Classified By: Charge d'affaires, D. Brent Hardt for reasons 1.5 (b) an d (d). -------------- Summary: -------------- ¶1. (C) In the wake of the UN Headquarters attack, Vatican Deputy Foreign Minister Parolin reacted positively to our call for support for the Iraqi Governing Council (ref A),and said the Holy See would likely be open to talks with its representatives. Parolin expressed interest in securing Holy See participation at the upcoming donors' conference in Spain. Through its nuncio in Iraq, the Vatican has emphasized the importance of maintaining the international commitment to Iraq's reconstruction following the terrorist attack. During his recent return to Rome, the nuncio had given the Holy See a generally positive assessment of the situation on the ground. Parolin expressed concern about and interest in reports of Iranian meddling in Iraq, and indicated he would welcome information from the U.S. on Iran's activities. The Holy See maintains an active relationship with Iran, and may be willing to weigh in with Iran to discourage further involvement. See ACTION REQUEST para. 6. End Summary. -------------- Vatican Supportive on Reconstruction Efforts -------------- ¶2. (C) Holy See Deputy Foreign Minister Pietro Parolin was upbeat in conversations on Iraq with the CDA August 20. Though saddened by the previous day's attack on UN Headquarters, Parolin was receptive to our approach (per ref A) for support for the Iraqi Governing Council (GC) and the reconstruction process in general. He agreed that the coalition and international community had to press forward with the reconstruction process. Parolin foresaw no problem in receiving GC representatives to begin talks on issues of mutual concern, including the possibility of establishing a liaison office to the Holy See, building on the infrastructure of Iraq's former Vatican diplomatic representation. ¶3. (C) Parolin expressed interest in the Vatican's attending the October 23-24 donors' conference in Spain. Though the Holy See itself has limited assistance funds, its affiliated charitable institutions such as CARITAS -- which are coordinated by the Vatican's Council Cor Unum -- have been active in Iraq for many years and have a well-developed relief and reconstruction infrastructure in the country. Moreover, Parolin indicated that the Holy See wanted to emphasize its moral support for Iraqi reconstruction. Per ref B, we will inform the Holy See that it should approach Spain to coordinate its potential participation in the meeting. -------------- Constructive View of Events on the Ground -------------- ¶4. (C) The Vatican's view of events on the ground in Iraq since the end of the war remains constructive and surprisingly upbeat. The Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq, Archbishop Fernando Filoni, told Vatican Radio August 21 that the attack on UN Headquarters should not deter the international community in its commitment to return Iraq to normalcy. Though there are people who "do not want normality," the majority of Iraqis do, he commented. The way to achieve this normalcy, Filoni said, is to develop international relations "between Iraq and other countries." Filoni, in fact, had been in Rome recently on leave and was said to be in good spirits. He told Parolin that while the security situation was affecting aid distribution, overall conditions in the country were improving. He believed the top priorities must now be the hospitals and security. Filoni reported to the Holy See about a recent killing of a Christian in Northern Iraq, but said that the Nunciature was still investigating the motives behind it to determine whether it was religiously motivated. -------------- Chaldean Community Selecting Patriarch -------------- ¶5. (C) Parolin told us the Vatican had not been getting much news recently from the Chaldean Catholic community in Iraq. However, the Chaldean Synod is in the process of choosing a new patriarch for the Church. The recently deceased patriarch, Raphael Bidawid, had been close to Saddam's regime and quite vocal in opposition to UN sanctions and US policy in general; the identity and approach of the new patriarch may have an impact on the atmosphere in Iraq and the future direction of the Chaldean community. Parolin did not identify any front-runners. -------------- Concern About Iranian Meddling -------------- ¶6. (C) In wrapping up our discussion on Iraq, the Deputy ForMin asked us to gauge the extent to which Iran may be contributing to insecurity and instability in southern Iraq. CDA responded that the USG has publicly stated its concerns about Iranian meddling and that we have raised those concerns with a number of countries. He pledged to make further inquiries about USG concerns about Iran's role, which Parolin said the Holy See would welcome. We note that the Holy See maintains an active bilateral dialogue with Iran, and we believe it would likely be willing to weigh in with Iranian authorities to discourage continued involvement in Iraq. Please advise if there is information on this issue appropriate to pass to the Holy See in order to encourage their engagement with Iran to discourage further meddling in Iraq. HARDT NNNN 2003VATICA03847 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL