POPE: MIGRATION ISSUES CRUCIAL TO CULTURE OF PEACE

UNCLAS VATICAN 00005 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/WE: LEVIN; G/TIP: ETERNO, NORIN, LERNER; PRM/PRP: KENNELLY E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF SMIG VT SUBJECT: POPE: MIGRATION ISSUES CRUCIAL TO CULTURE OF PEACE REF: VATICAN 5431 1.POPE JOHN PAUL II'S MESSAGE FOR THE 2004 WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES DIRECTLY LINKED MIGRATION ISSUES WITH EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A CULTURE OF PEACE. TO CULTIVATE A CULTURE OF PEACE WITHIN A LANDSCAPE OF GREATER STABILITY, THE POPE CALLED ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE CONDITIONS THAT SAFEGUARDED "THE RIGHT TO NOT EMIGRATE." TO THE HOLY SEE, THIS MEANS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE PEACEFULLY AND WITH DIGNITY IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY, AND NOT BE COMPELLED BY WAR, UNREST, OR ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES. TO DO SO, HOWEVER, THE HOLY SEE INSISTS THAT GOVERNMENTS MUST ENSURE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND MOVEMENT, AS WELL AS FOOD, HEALTH, WORK, HOUSING AND EDUCATION -- ALL NECESSITIES WHICH, WHEN LACKING, LEAD PEOPLE TO EMIGRATE. 2.THE PAPAL MESSAGE, WHICH FOLLOWED A MAJOR VATICAN CONFERENCE ON MIGRATION IN NOVEMBER (REFTEL) ALSO AFFIRMED A RIGHT TO MIGRATE. THE POPE SAID THE WORLD AND ITS RESOURCES BELONGED TO ALL PEOPLE, AND THAT WHILE GOVERNMENTS HAD A RIGHT TO REGULATE MIGRATION, PEOPLE ALSO HAD A RIGHT TO SEEK SAFETY AND A DIGNIFIED LIFE ABROAD. THE POPE CONDEMNED THE CREATION OF MIGRANT GHETTOS IN RECEIVING COUNTRIES AND SUGGESTED A GRADUAL INTEGRATION OF MIGRANTS THAT RESPECTED BOTH THEIR IDENTITY AND THE CULTURAL PATRIMONY OF THE HOST COUNTRY. THE MESSAGE IMPLIED THAT MORE FAVORABLE CONDITIONS IN THE HOME COUNTRY AND TOLERANT SOCIAL INTEGRATION IN THE RECEIVING COUNTRY COULD COUNTERACT THE INCREASING PHENOMENON OF WAR AND OTHER FORMS OF VIOLENCE THAT OFTEN DRAW ENERGY FROM DISAFFECTED AND MARGINALIZED PEOPLE. 3.COMMENT: THE POPE'S MESSAGE CONDEMNED WAR, VIOLENCE, , TERRORISM, OPPRESSION, DISCRIMINATION AND INJUSTICE IN A WAY CONSISTENT WITH TRADITIONAL HOLY SEE POLICY POSITIONS. THE VATICAN SEES THE LINKS AMONG THESE ILLS THAT COMBINE TO THREATEN HUMAN DIGNITY. THE POPE DESCRIBED TRUE PEACE AS NOT MERELY THE ABSENCE OF CONFLICT, BUT A LONG-TERM DYNAMIC PROCESS INVOLVING ALL PEOPLE AND ENGENDERING RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. THE POPE'S MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES MESSAGE WAS IN LINE WITH ELEMENTS OF THE U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY CALLING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ESTABLISHMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL STABILITY, THE MAINTENANCE OF PEACE, AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY. THE MESSAGE ALSO CONTAINED A STRONG CONDEMNATION OF TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS AS THE WORK OF "UNSCRUPULOUS EXPLOITERS." END COMMENT. NICHOLSON NNNN 2004VATICA00005 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED