Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VATICAN215
2006-10-11 15:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vatican
Cable title:
NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR TEST: HOLY SEE FAVORS DISARMAMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO5959 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHROV #0215 2841531 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 111531Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0517 INFO RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0545
UNCLAS VATICAN 000215
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL VT KN PARM KNNP
SUBJECT: NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR TEST: HOLY SEE FAVORS DISARMAMENT
REF: STATE 169418
UNCLAS VATICAN 000215
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL VT KN PARM KNNP
SUBJECT: NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR TEST: HOLY SEE FAVORS DISARMAMENT
REF: STATE 169418
1. (SBU) Charge d'affaires raised issue of North Korean October
8 nuclear test with Holy See Undersecretary for Relations with
States (i.e., deputy foreign minister) Pietro Parolin during an
October 10 meeting on another subject. Parolin said at the time
that the Holy See had not yet had time to formulate a response
to the nuclear tests. Charge subsequently faxed reftel points
to Parolin and the Vatican desk officer for East Asia.
2. (U) Separately on October 10, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the
Holy See's Secretary of State (i.e., prime minister) responded
to a question on the North Korean tests by reiterating the Holy
See's longstanding position against nuclear weapons. "It is
clear that the Holy See is in favor, not of weapons, but of
disarmament and peace" said Bertone. (On the same day, the
Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace released a statement
expressing "full support" to a proposal to set up a working
group in the United Nations to prepare a treaty to limit
conventional weapons trade.)
3. (SBU) Comment: The Holy See -- strongly opposed to all
nuclear weapons -- is certain to find the North Korean tests an
ominous development, but may have reservations about saying much
at this time. We will continue to press and to report further
reactions.
SANDROLINI
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SIP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL VT KN PARM KNNP
SUBJECT: NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR TEST: HOLY SEE FAVORS DISARMAMENT
REF: STATE 169418
1. (SBU) Charge d'affaires raised issue of North Korean October
8 nuclear test with Holy See Undersecretary for Relations with
States (i.e., deputy foreign minister) Pietro Parolin during an
October 10 meeting on another subject. Parolin said at the time
that the Holy See had not yet had time to formulate a response
to the nuclear tests. Charge subsequently faxed reftel points
to Parolin and the Vatican desk officer for East Asia.
2. (U) Separately on October 10, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the
Holy See's Secretary of State (i.e., prime minister) responded
to a question on the North Korean tests by reiterating the Holy
See's longstanding position against nuclear weapons. "It is
clear that the Holy See is in favor, not of weapons, but of
disarmament and peace" said Bertone. (On the same day, the
Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace released a statement
expressing "full support" to a proposal to set up a working
group in the United Nations to prepare a treaty to limit
conventional weapons trade.)
3. (SBU) Comment: The Holy See -- strongly opposed to all
nuclear weapons -- is certain to find the North Korean tests an
ominous development, but may have reservations about saying much
at this time. We will continue to press and to report further
reactions.
SANDROLINI