DAS MADISON ENGAGES VATICAN ON CUBA

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000089

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/14/2032
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KIRF CU VT
SUBJECT: DAS MADISON ENGAGES VATICAN ON CUBA

REF: A. A. STATE 57510


B. B. PARMLY - FRIEDMAN 4/30 EMAIL

VATICAN 00000089 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Peter Martin, Political Officer, Vatican, State.

REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
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Summary

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1. (C) WHA DAS Kirsten Madison described the worsening human
rights situation in Cuba to the new XXXXXXXXXXXX, and
appealed to the Vatican on the issue of the Catholic magazine
Vitral. XXXXXXXXXXXX repeated general Vatican support for Vitral
and promised to look into the matter further. Monsignor XXXXXXXXXXXX, told Madison that Cardinal Ortega had
likely pressured local Bishop Serpa to shut the magazine down,
apparently motivated by some personal feelings about the
leadership of the magazine. XXXXXXXXXXXX was not wholly convinced
that the Spanish could have done more during the Moratinos
visit, though he did not dispute the negative effects the visit
had upon dissidents. XXXXXXXXXXXX suggested that some concession on
restrictions such as family travel to Cuba could be useful for
advancing U.S. interests generally. DAS Madison's visit was
useful in accessing XXXXXXXXXXXX's goldmine of information on the
Church in Cuba, and helping to shape the views of XXXXXXXXXXXX,
still learning the intricacies of Cuba issues. End Summary



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Vitral

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2. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX, still getting up to speed on his substantial
portfolio (including Cuba, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia
and Brazil),stuck to the official line on Vitral, saying that
as far as he knew the magazine had been "suspended" for
financial reasons. He repeated what Post has reported before:
the Vatican was not behind the closure of Vitral. XXXXXXXXXXXX and
XXXXXXXXXXXX (please protect throughout) both expressed concern that
this important voice be silenced. However, XXXXXXXXXXXX repeated
his contention that the Holy See would be very hesitant to
interfere in a bishop's diocese on an issue like this




3. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX, who served in Havana and previously covered
Cuba in the Secretariat of State, seemed to be more in the know
on the issue. He said that the government had been trying to
close Vitral for years, but was afraid of the potential
backlash. When the local bishop (Siro) retired, Cardinal Ortega
pressured new Bishop Serpa to shut it down, apparently motivated
by some animosity towards the leadership of the magazine. In
any case, XXXXXXXXXXXX said, the government must be happy because
the Church did its dirty work for it. [Note: Vatican officials
have hinted in the past that Ortega had become too cozy with
Castro.]




4. (S) Madison stressed the concern about the closure she had
already heard from governments and non-governmental
organizations during her trip, and XXXXXXXXXXXX was sympathetic.
We suggested that if the Vatican shared our interest in Vitral
continuing publication, they might arrange for Bishop Serpa to
receive a grant from Caritas or another Vatican-related aid
organization (ref a). In this way the Holy See could signal its
interest in an understated way, sending a message, but offering
the bishop a face-saving way to backtrack on his decision.
XXXXXXXXXXXX said that the issue would be at the top of his agenda
as soon as the pope's trip to Brazil was out of the way; it was
currently consuming the Secretariat of State. [Note: We have
not heard confirmation that Serpa is coming to Rome (ref b),
though some Cuban prelates are apparently coming later this
month for a meeting at the Pontifical Council for Justice and
Peace.]



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Human Rights


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5. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX was surprised to hear Madison's description
of the worsening human rights situation in Cuba, but did not
dispute it, simply seeking details. [Note: Post has a follow-up
appointment with him this week at which we will pass further
points supplied by WHA.] XXXXXXXXXXXX was not as surprised,
recounting three recent incidents of harassment of Catholic
clergy at the airport.



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Moratinos

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6. (C) Madison noted that Cuba's democratic opposition was
feeling vulnerable in the aftermath of the recent visit of
Spanish FM Moratinos to Cuba. XXXXXXXXXXXX repeated his contentions
that the Spanish offer to meet at a lower level with dissidents
following Moratinos' departure was significant, and that it
would have been difficult diplomatically for the Spanish to have
done otherwise. Madison emphasized the deflating effects the
decision had had on dissidents, who look to Europe for support
in their struggle for human rights. The fact that some
activists had put aside their considerable differences to sign
the Unity for Freedom statement showed how vulnerable the
Spanish had left them feeling and demonstrated a degree of
strategic thinking that was a new phenomenon.



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Embargo, Restrictions

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7. (C) The Holy See's view on the embargo is well known and
neither interlocutor dwelled on it. But XXXXXXXXXXXX said that some
concession on restrictions such as family travel could be useful
for advancing U.S. interests generally. He suggested that a
gesture like that could perhaps win over support from the
Europeans on other Cuba issues.



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Comment

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8. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX offered a goldmine of information on the
Church in Cuba; a visit with him is well worth the time for our
top officials following Cuba. He told us that Bertone was
engaged on these issues. Madison's visit was also very helpful
in orienting XXXXXXXXXXXX on U.S. policy. He is not yet a Cuba
expert, but is a sharp diplomat and will quickly get up to speed
on his countries when the dust clears from the papal visit to
Brazil. We will continue to engage XXXXXXXXXXXX, as we hope he
will become the helpful advocate on Cuba and Venezuela that
XXXXXXXXXXXX was in his position.
ROONEY