HOLY SEE AND IRAQ: NEW PASSPORTS, UNSCR, CHALDEAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 004918

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR/WE LEVIN; NEA/RA; IO/UNP; DRL/IRF: DEATHERAGE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2013
TAGS: IZ KIRF PREL VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE AND IRAQ: NEW PASSPORTS, UNSCR, CHALDEAN
PATRIARCH

REF: A. A) STATE 294152

B. B) VATICAN 283

Classified By: Ambassador Jim Nicholson for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (U) This cable contains an action request. Please see
paragraph 3.

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HOLY SEE FORESEES NO PROBLEM ON PASSPORT REQUEST
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2. (U) Poloff met October 24 with Holy See Office Director
for Iraq Franco Coppola to deliver Ref A demarche and
non-paper on Iraqi diplomatic and service passports.
Coppola did not anticipate that the Vatican would have any
difficulty honoring Iraqi passports or facilitating travel of
Iraqi diplomatic and official personnel. Coppola took on
board our nonpaper, noting the serial numbers of the
passports in question.

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ACTION REQUEST: IRAQI DIPLOMATIC PERSONNEL
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3. (SBU) Coppola said that the Holy See has had no news of a
new Iraqi ambassador to the Vatican. He was also unsure of
the whereabouts of the former ambassador to the Vatican,
Abdul-Amir Al-Anbari (and his staff). Post has previously
advised the Holy See per Department guidance that the
Ambassador had failed to report to the Provisional
Authorities in Iraq and therefore should no longer considered
an Iraqi representative. Post requests information on plans
for Iraqi diplomatic presence in Vatican City and any revised
guidance on the diplomatic/legal status of previous Iraqi
diplomatic staff accredited to the Holy See.

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UNSCR: A STEP FORWARD
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4. (SBU) Turning to the recently-passed UN Security Council
Resolution (UNSCR) on Iraq, Coppola called it "a step
forward." He acknowledged the importance of the unanimous
vote on the resolution, and said its passage was not just a
victory for the U.S., but for the entire Security Council,
which the Holy See believes needs to find common ground and
cooperate on Iraq. Still, Coppola lamented the lack of
enthusiasm on the part of some members of the Security
Council, and said the next step would be for all parties to
exhibit "concrete collaboration on the ground." In a related
point, Coppola noted the presence of Archbishop Paul Josef
Cordes, President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, at the
international donors conference for Iraqi recnstruction in
Madrid. Cor Unum is the arm of th Vatican that coordinates
the activities of Vatian-related development agencies and
distributes onations made to the Church for worldwide
humaniarian aid initiatives (REF D). Archbishop Cordes had
visited Iraq shortly after the end of hostilities to deliver
assistance from the Pope and coordinate Catholic assistance
with local bishops and Caritas Iraq, which remains active in
providing medical assistance in major cities.

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DECISION SHOULD COME SOON ON NEW CHALDEAN PATRIARCH
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5. (C) Turning to the pending decision to name a new
patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, Coppola
said a decision by the Pope should be forthcoming "in the
coming days." After the death of Chaldean Patriarch Raphael
Bidawid in July, a synod of Chaldean bishops convened in
Baghdad in August to select a new patriarch; however, no
candidate gained the necessary percentage of votes to be
forwarded to the Pope for his approval. In this case,
Coppola told us, the Pope has a free hand to choose the next
patriarch, and will do so soon. The Holy See recognizes it
should not "leave the Chaldeans without a leader for too
long," Coppola said. (COMMENT: The new Chaldean Patriarch
will likely play a role in Chaldean efforts to gain greater
representation in Iraqi government structures. While 19
Chaldean religious leaders complained in a September letter
to the Coalition Provisional Authority of insufficient
representation of Christians on national councils and
commissions, Vatican news agency Fides reported later in the
month on Christian representation on several regional
councils. END COMMENT.)


6. (U) Minimize considered.


Nicholson


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2003VATICA04918 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL