HOLY SEE: DEPUTY FM DISCUSSES MIDDLE EAST, CHINA,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000026 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/29/2017 TAGS: PREL VT SUBJECT: HOLY SEE: DEPUTY FM DISCUSSES MIDDLE EAST, CHINA, VENEZUELA VATICAN 00000026 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: Christopher Sandrolini, Charge d'affaires, EXEC, State. REASON: 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Deputy FM Parolin discussed a number of countries with visiting EUR/WE Director Allegrone on January 24. The Holy See was unsatisfied by its recent talks with Israel on a Final Agreement. Parolin sought information about the funding situation for the Palestinian Authority. He was interested in the Paris Lebanon donors conference and reiterated the Holy See's strong concern for Christians in Lebanon, and over the violence in that part of the world. Parolin urged the US, as he has done before, to consider engaging Iran and Syria; he discussed recent Iranian contacts with the Vatican and thought that Ahmadinejad is losing support at home. On China, Parolin was both hopeful and cautious. He said the Holy See would like to send an envoy to China at the appropriate time, and noted the mild Chinese reaction to a recent Vatican statement on relations with China -- but recalled that the real problem is the Patriotic Association, and predicted a long and complicated path ahead. Parolin expressed concern over the situation in Venezuela and, regretting the lack of a united opposition there, noted the Church's general preference to avoid confrontation. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) EUR/WE Director Kathleen Allegrone called on Monsignor Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's Undersecretary for Relations with States (i.e., deputy foreign minister) on January 24. Charge d'affaires and Monsignor Paolo Gualtieri (Americas desk officer) also attended. Discussion covered a number of topics as described below. Israel, Palestine -------------- ¶3. (C) Referring to ongoing negotiations over the Final Agreement between Israel and the Holy See, Parolin said the meeting on January 13 had not been satisfactory to the Vatican and there had been no change in the stalemate. Israel remains unwilling to grant the tax exemptions for Church property sought by the Holy See, and also remains unwilling to accord the Agreement itself the equivalent of treaty status -- thus the Agreement could potentially be overturned by future Israeli legislation. Parolin also complained that Israeli negotiators lack the authority for genuine negotiations. High level talks usually seem productive, but at the working level -- since every point must be referred to the GOI -- talks proceed very slowly and accomplish little. ¶4. (C) Regarding the Palestinians, Parolin asked whether anyone in Hamas was yet willing to compromise with Israel; Allegrone said it was not. Parolin asked for information about the level of funding available to the Abbas government to pay for essential services (note: post will provide) and asked about the Road Map. Allegrone said Secretary Rice hopes to meet both Abbas and Olmert informally soon, and noted that the Quartet would meet February 2 at the minister level in Washington. She emphasized USG interest in keeping a focus on democracy initiatives and institution building, and not letting the ongoing violence absorb all attention. Lebanon, Syria, Iran -------------- ¶4. (C) Allegrone discussed Secretary Rice's visit to Paris for the Lebanon donors conference, and Siniora's emphasis on economic reform. Parolin, observing that the Holy See had not been invited, requested more information about the conference and who had been invited. He reiterated the Holy See's special concern for the Christian population. He said Hezballah sees the Siniora government as too pro-West. Parolin recalled the Pope's strong concern (expressed in his recent message to the diplomatic corps) over violence in the Middle East and especially Lebanon. ¶5. (C) Parolin urged the US to engage Syria and Iran in some kind of dialogue. Allegrone said the US has seen no sign of changed behavior from Syria, and does not view that country as ready for a positive role; as for Iran, Secretary Rice has recently reiterated that the USG is prepared to have direct discussions with Iran on the range of issues, but that Iran must first meet its international obligations to fully and verifiably suspend enrichment and reprocessing of nuclear material. Parolin, pressing his point, argued that there has been an evolution inside Iran, with Ahmedinejad losing support from the population and from Khamenei. Asked about Iranian-Holy See relations, Parolin noted the Pope's call for Iran to give assurances to international community to build trust. Ahmadinejad's letter to the Pope, received December 27, had contained nothing specific, only the general wish of Iran for more interreligious dialogue, and exchanges of views. This was essentially the same message as the Iranian Vice Foreign Minister had brought some weeks earlier; he will come back to VATICAN 00000026 002.2 OF 002 Rome next May. Parolin said the Vatican wants a deeper relation, i.e. of the overall Church, not just the Holy See; he hoped a cultural exchange channel could be opened. China -------------- ¶6. (C) Parolin said the Holy See wants to send a papal representative to China, but is not in a hurry to do so. The situation is difficult, complicated by last year's illicit episcopal nominations. The Vatican has sent several messages to the Chinese government signaling its hopes for a pragmatic solution, as had seemed to be on track until last year. The initial Chinese reaction to the Holy See's January 19-20 review of China policy (and subsequent statement) had been moderate. The key remains the principle of ordination policy, on which the Holy See cannot compromise (though it can be flexible in practice). Parolin acknowledged that it may be a long process. He said the real problem is not the government, but the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, and particularly Liu Bainian, its vice chairman and de facto head. Venezuela -------------- ¶7. (C) Parolin said the Holy See remains very concerned about Venezuela, noting that Chavez had now attacked a bishop as a personal enemy. Chavez is taking up all political space. However, the Holy See remains wary of any confrontation, particularly in present circumstances. He regretted the lack of a united opposition in Venezuela. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) Parolin has long been our best interlocutor on foreign policy, as his seniors (Secretary of State Bertone and Secretary for Relations with States Mamberti) are both relatively new and fairly hard to reach. Parolin, readily available, knowledgeable, and guardedly candid, may be due for a promotion to a nuncio's post in the near future. His comments in this meeting reflected continuity in all topics: disappointment at Israeli foot-dragging; concern over violence in the Middle East, and worry about Christian populations there; a belief that dialogue with Syria and Iran is important to any solutions in the region; opposition to the death penalty; short-term pessimism about relations with China, but a sense of likely progress in the longer term; and concern mixed with prudence in Venezuela. ¶9. (U) Director Allegrone has cleared this cable. SANDROLINI