HOLY SEE SUPPORTIVE OF US POSITION ON MIGRATION HLD

UNCLAS VATICAN 000188 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL VT SUBJECT: HOLY SEE SUPPORTIVE OF US POSITION ON MIGRATION HLD REF: STATE 122513 ¶1. (U) Monsignor Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's Undersecretary for Relations with States (equivalent to deputy foreign minister) called in DCM to discuss the High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development (reftel),which DCM had raised with Foreign Minister Lajolo on July 28. ¶2. (SBU) Parolin said that Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See's Permanent Observer to the UN in New York, had already discussed the issue in depth with PRM Assistant Secretary Sauerbrey, but he wanted to inform post directly as well. In general, the Holy See agrees with the United States that a new bureaucratic mechanism is not desirable and that the emphasis should remain on good national legislation and good bilateral agreements, rather than on multilateral bodies; but that these laws and agreements should certainly be in the framework of existing international law. The Holy See also puts great emphasis on the human rights of migrants, based on their inalienable human dignity. The Holy See respects the sovereign right of nations to control their borders but also calls upon states to protect the rights of workers, whether irregular (i.e., illegal) or not, since legal status and human dignity are separate. Parolin suggested that perhaps a compilation of international legislation on migration, which he described as fragmented, might be a helpful step. He also called for greater focus on implementation. ¶3. (U) In general, he reiterated the Holy See view that immigration should be seen in positive terms for all concerned; it is the duty of migrants to respect their host societies, and those societies should protect migrants. Parolin said that the international community should do more to address root causes of migration, thus eliminating the need for most migrants to leave home. ¶4. (U) Parolin also expressed appreciation for the strong US stand, and actions, against trafficking in persons. ROONEY