HOLY SEE ON IRAQI PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS LAW

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000073

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/6/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KIRF IZ VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE ON IRAQI PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS LAW

REF: A. HUNTER-FOLEY OCTOBER 6 EMAIL (NEA-I BACKGROUND INFORMATION)

B. BAGHDAD 3219

CLASSIFIED BY: Rafael Foley, Political Chief.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

1. (C) Summary: At a Holy See-requested urgent meeting, Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Monsignor Pietro Parolin, asked USG
assistance in ensuring minority quotas for Iraqi provincial
councils. Parolin said that the Article 50 deletion from the
Provincial Elections Law (PEL) sends a "most negative" signal
for the future of Christians in Iraq. Even were an
administrative solution to the issue possible, Parolin said the
Holy See would prefer quotas enshrined in legislation. End
summary.


2. (C) Pol Chief, representing the Ambassador, met with
Monsignor Parolin on October 2. Parolin, who had asked to meet
with Embassy Vatican urgently to discuss the issue, requested
USG assistance in restoring Article 50 to the PEL. He said the
last-minute deletion of the article that reserved quotas for
Christians and other minorities was not an isolated event, but
part of a pattern of disregarding the rights of minorities.
References to Sharia law in the Constitution are another
example. This pattern does not bode well for the future of
Iraqi Christians. Pol Chief assured Parolin that supporting the
political rights of all of Iraq's people, including minorities,
is a top U.S. priority -- while also noting concerns regarding
re-opening debate on the PEL (ref. A).


3. (C) Parolin agreed that the goal for the Holy See and for
Christians in Iraq is to have minority representation in the
councils. He was not aware that this could be achieved by means
other than restoring Article 50. (Note: Parolin knew that the
Nuncio had met with Ambassador Crocker earlier in the day (ref.
B),but did not have a readout of that meeting. End note.) Pol
Chief explained that implementing regulations rather than a PEL
amendment could achieve minority representation.
Notwithstanding, Parolin preferred an amendment in order to give
full legal protection to the quotas. Implementing regulations
could be subject to the discretion of administrators and be
undone at a later stage. Parolin added that, whatever the
approach taken, quotas should be protected in a lasting way.


4. (C) Comment: The Holy See is deeply concerned about the
future of Christians throughout the Middle East, the birth place
of Christianity. Iraq is the latest battleground in the
struggle to uphold the notion that Christians are an
autochthonous and integral part of the region. According to
Holy See officials, the dissolution of Christian communities
living side-by-side with Muslims will make it more difficult to
promote religious tolerance and inter-faith dialogue worldwide,
as everyday, peaceful coexistence demonstrates to societies that
religious freedom and diversity are possible. End comment.

GLENDON