HOLY SEE STATEMENT ON IRAN

UNCLAS VATICAN 000102 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL VT SUBJECT: HOLY SEE STATEMENT ON IRAN REF: (A) VATICAN 096, (B) STATE 87682 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The Holy See issued a statement June 3 in response to embassy demarche on Iran. It is cautiously supportive and probably marks the limit of Holy See public comment on this issue for now. End Summary. ¶2. (U) The Holy See's Secretariat of State (foreign ministry) issued a statement June 3. Original Italian text has been faxed to EUR/WE; an English translation of the text -- provided by the Vatican Information Service -- follows below in para 3. ¶3. (U) Begin English translation: A number of journalists have expressed a desire to know the Holy See's view on recent developments in international negotiations concerning the Iranian nuclear program. Having duly informed itself, this Press Office is in a position to communicate that the Holy See supports, as it always does, any initiative aimed at open and constructive dialogue. The Holy See is firmly convinced that the current difficulties also can and must be overcome through diplomatic channels, using all means at the disposal of diplomacy. It seems especially necessary that, through private contacts, those elements that objectively hinder mutual trust be removed, while never rejecting any sign of good will from the one side or from the other, and having care for the honor and sensitivity of each country. In this way, it will be possible to make steps of mutual rapprochement. End English translation. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (SBU) This statement, while general in nature, is clearly in response to our demarche (refs a and b),and probably marks the limit of what the Holy See will say publicly on the matter for now. The awkwardness of the language (in the original as well as translation) suggests that it was difficult for the Holy See to produce even this anodyne statement. ROONEY