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

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2004VATICA00005 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED