US embassy cable - 04VATICAN1164

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VATICAN 001164 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE: LEVIN; EUR/SE; EUR/ERA; DRL/IRF: ABRAMSON; 
G/TIP: ETERNO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2014 
TAGS: EU, PHUM, PREL, SOCI, TU, VT 
SUBJECT: VATICAN OPEN TO TURKEY'S EU BID 
 
REF: A. VATICAN 252 
 
     B. STATE 59846 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D) 
 
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    SUMMARY 
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1. (C) HOLY SEE COUNTRY DIRECTOR FOR TURKEY JAN PAWLOWSKI 
REAFFIRMED MARCH 5 THE VATICAN'S OPENNESS TO TURKISH EU 
MEMBERSHIP, DESPITE THE IMPRESSION OF OPPOSITION GENERATED BY 
THE HOLY SEE'S CONTINUED EFFORTS TO INTERJECT A REFERENCE TO 
EUROPE'S CHRISTIAN ROOTS IN THE EU CONSTITUTION. 
NEVERTHELESS, THE HOLY SEE HAS CONTINUING CONCERNS WITH 
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN TURKEY, PARTICULARLY THE LACK OF 
JURIDICAL STATUS FOR THE EXERCISE OF RELIGIOUS RIGHTS.  THE 
POPE REINFORCED THESE CONCERNS WHEN THE NEW TURKISH 
AMBASSADOR PRESENTED HIS CREDENTIALS THIS MONTH.  AMBASSADOR 
DURAK SUBSEQUENTLY TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
WAS NOW "THE MAIN ISSUE" IN TURKEY-HOLY SEE RELATIONS, BUT HE 
MAINTAINED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT TREATED ADHERENTS ALL FAITHS 
EQUALLY, AND WITHOUT  DISCRIMINATION.  THE VATICAN HAS TOLD 
US PRIVATELY THAT TURKEY WOULD SATISFY THE HOLY SEE'S 
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM CONCERNS BY FULLY MEETING THE EU'S 
COPENHAGEN CRITERIA.  SUCH STEPS, COUPLED WITH THE HOLY SEE'S 
GROWING INTEREST IN OUTREACH TO THE MUSLIM WORLD AND ITS 
ONGOING CALLS FOR RELIGIOUS UNDERSTANDING, MAKE IT UNLIKELY 
THAT THE HOLY SEE WILL VOICE ANY OPPOSITION TO TURKEY'S 
CANDIDACY.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------- 
TURKEY: COMPATIBLE WITH THE EU? 
------------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) HOLY SEE COUNTRY DIRECTOR FOR TURKEY JAN PAWLOWSKI 
TOLD US MARCH 5 THAT THE HOLY SEE HAD NO OBJECTIONS TO EU 
    MEMBERSHIP FOR TURKEY, AS LONG AS THE GOT FULLY SATISFIED THE 
EU'S COPENHAGEN CRITERIA ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.  CONCERNS 
ABOUT THE VATICAN'S POSITION SURFACED LAST YEAR WHEN THEN 
VATICAN FOREIGN MINISTER JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN SUGGESTED THERE 
SHOULD BE GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITATIONS ON EUROPE, IMPLYING THAT 
TURKEY SHOULD NOT MAKE THE CUT FOR EU EXPANSION.  TAURAN HAD 
ALSO STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF EUROPEAN (READ: CHRISTIAN) 
VALUES IN THE NEW EUROPE.  A SUBSEQUENT VATICAN STATEMENT 
LINKING A LACK OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN TURKEY TO ITS EU 
CANDIDACY, COUPLED WITH THE POPE'S CONTINUING CALLS FOR 
RECOGNITION OF THE CHRISTIAN ROOTS OF EUROPE IN THE NEW 
EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION LED MANY TO BELIEVE THE HOLY SEE WAS 
OPPOSED TO TURKEY'S EU BID. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM THE ISSUE - NOT GEOGRAPHY OR ISLAM 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
3. (C) PAWLOWSKI REAFFIRMED TO US WHAT TAURAN TOLD THE 
AMBASSADOR AFTER THE ISSUE CAME UP IN MAY:  AS FAR AS THE 
VATICAN IS CONCERNED, TURKEY IS "ENTITLED TO JOIN THE EU," 
BUT IT SHOULD FIRST IMPROVE ITS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND HUMAN 
RIGHTS RECORD.  ACCORDING TO PAWLOWSKI, THE VATICAN WAS NEVER 
OPPOSED TO TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP, AND ITS GEOGRAPHY AND 
PREDOMINANTLY MUSLIM POPULATION WERE NOT DISQUALIFIERS IN THE 
HOLY SEE'S EYES.  BUT, HE EXPLAINED, THE HOLY SEE WAS -- AND 
REMAINS -- CONCERNED ABOUT A LACK OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR 
CHRISTIANS IN TURKEY.  PAWLOWSKI SAID THE HOLY SEE "THOUGHT 
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO RAISE THE ISSUE" BECAUSE RELIGIOUS 
FREEDOM IS AN IMPORTANT VALUE FOR THE EU.  "MEMBER STATES 
SHOULD BE AWARE IF A CANDIDATE COUNTRY IS COMING UP SHORT," 
    HE EXPLAINED.  AFTER MAKING MEMBER STATES AWARE OF THEIR 
PERCEPTIONS OF CURRENT HUMAN RIGHTS AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 
SHORTCOMINGS, PAWLOWSKI SAID THE HOLY SEE DIDN'T SEE ITSELF 
IN ANY WAY AS A FINL ARBITER OF EU MEMBERSHIP.  THE VATICAN 
KNOWS HE SAID, THE OVERALL ISSUE IS ULTIMATELY "NOT FORUS 
TO DECIDE." 
 
--------------------------------------- 
CHRISTIAN ROOTS, MULTI-RELIGIOUS SOCIET 
---------------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) PAWLOWSKI INSISTED THAT ONE COULD RECOGNIZE TH 
CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE IN EUROPE'S PAST AND ITS CURENT 
RELEVANCE WHILE STILL ENCOURAGING A HARMONIOS MULTI-ETHNIC, 
MULTI-RELIGIOUS EUROPEAN SOCIETY  "THE HOLY FATHER HAS 
ALWAYS SAID THAT EUROPEANSOCIETY MUST BE INCLUSIVE, AND 
WELCOME THE STRANER," HE SAID.  PAWLOWSKI CONTENDS HAT THIS 
INCLUSIVITY HOLDS TRUE FOR THE ACCESSIONOF A PRIMARILY 
MUSLIM NATION LIKE TURKEY INTO TH EU, AS MUCH AS IT WOULD 
FOR INDIVIDUAL IMMIGRANS OF ALL FAITHS.  (COMMENT:  THE HOLY 
SEE FINDS TSELF IN A DIFFICULT BALANCING ACT HERE.  PAPAL 
 
VATICAN 00001164  002.1 OF 003 
 
NOTABLE GAP" BETWEEN 
EUROPEAN CULTURE, WITH ITS PROFOUND CHRISTIAN ROOTS, AND 
MUSLIM THOUGHT.  WHILE THE HOLY SEE MAY BE "OPEN" TO ISLAM 
AND WANT TO PROMOTE TOLERANCE AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN 
EUROPE, IT IS ALSO NOT EAGER TO SEE ITS MORAL INFLUENCE IN 
ITS BACKYARD DILUTED FURTHER THAN IT ALREADY HAS BEEN.  THE 
    VATICAN'S GOAL IS AN OPEN, MULTI-RELIGIOUS, AND TOLERANT 
EUROPE IN WHICH THE HOLY SEE CONTINUES TO HAVE AN INFLUENTIAL 
MORAL AND CULTURAL VOICE.  END COMMENT.) 
 
5. (C) FOR NOW, ACCORDING TO PAWLOWSKI, TURKEY STILL HAS A 
LOT OF WORK TO DO ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.  HE SAID THE HOLY SEE 
HAS HEARD MANY PROMISES, BUT LITTLE ACTION FROM THE GOT, AND 
NOTED THAT THE POPE HAD RAISED RELIGIOUS LIBERTY WHEN THE NEW 
TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO THE HOLY SEE, OSMAN DURAK, PRESENTED 
HIS CREDENTIALS RECENTLY.  THE POPE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE 
PRINCIPLES OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY WERE ENSHRINED IN THE TURKISH 
CONSTITUTION, BUT SAID THAT SUCH GUARANTEES ONLY BECAME TRULY 
RELEVANT "ONCE THEY HAVE BECOME PART OF ORDINARY LEGISLATION 
AND THEREFORE OF THE LIVING FABRIC OF SOCIETY."  HE ADDED 
THAT HE LOOKED FORWARD TO "RECOGNITION ON THE PART OF THE 
TURKISH AUTHORITIES AND INSTITUTIONS OF THE CHURCH'S 
JURIDICAL STATUS" IN TURKEY.  THE POPE STRESSED THAT THE 
CHURCH DID NOT "SEEK SPECIAL PRIVILEGES OR PREFERENTIAL 
TREATMENT," BUT MERELY FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.  PAWLOWSKI TOLD US 
THAT THE RIGHTS AT ISSUE WERE OFTEN THOSE RELATING TO 
PROPERTY; HE GAVE AS AN EXAMPLE A CONTINUING DISPUTE 
INVOLVING SOME FRENCH PRIESTS IN TURKEY WHO HAD BEEN STRIPPED 
OF THEIR LAND BY A TURKISH COURT. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM KEY ISSUE FOR TURKISH AMBASSADOR 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
6.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR RAISED THE ISSUE OF THE VATICAN'S 
ATTITUDE TO TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION WITH TURKISH AMBASSADOR 
DURAK WHEN THE LATTER PAID AN OFFICE CALL MARCH 15.  DURAK 
    SAID HE HAD PRESSED TURKEY'S EUROPEAN CREDENTIALS WHEN HE 
FIRST MET THE POPE IN FEBRUARY, NOTING THAT HIS COUNTRY'S 
EUROPEAN LAND MASS WAS GREATER THAN THAT OF BELGIUM.  DURAK 
SAID THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ISSUE WAS NOW THE CENTRAL THEME OF 
THE TURKEY-HOLY SEE RELATIONSHIP.  HE INSISTED THAT RELIGIOUS 
FREEDOM WAS ALREADY GUARANTEED BY THE TURKISH CONSTITUTION, 
BUT THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WANTED LEGAL MEANS TO SECURE AND 
PROTECT PROPERTY AND "EXPAND THEIR HOLDINGS."  ACCORDING TO 
DURAK, THE GOT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE THE VATICAN 
EVERYTHING IT WANTS WITHOUT "REWRITING THE CONSTITUTION," 
BUT WITH "SOME ADJUSTMENTS" TO CURRENT REGULATIONS WAS HOPING 
TO FIND COMMON GROUND.  DURAK'S DEPUTY TOLD DCM EARLIER THIS 
YEAR THAT THE LEGAL PROTECTIONS THE HOLY SEE IS SEEKING WERE 
ALSO NOT PROVIDED TO MUSLIM GROUPS BECAUSE OF THE SECULAR 
NATURE OF THE TURKISH CONSTITUTION. 
 
--------------------- 
TIP AND SAUDI SLAVERY 
--------------------- 
 
7. (C) DURING THE COURTESY CALL, THE AMBASSADOR ALSO BRIEFED 
DURAK ON THE EMBASSY'S ANTI-TRAFFICKING PROGRAMS, ENCOURAGING 
HIM TO ENGAGE WITH THE HOLY SEE'S DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY ON THE 
EFFORT.  HE NOTED THE RECENT G/TIP/EMBASSY VATICAN INITIATIVE 
TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF PAPAL NUNCIOS AND BISHOPS' 
CONFERENCES AROUND THE WORLD ON THE ISSUE, AND THE SUCCESS OF 
THE RECENTLY-LAUNCHED INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR 
MIGRATION (IOM) PROGRAM DEVELOPED WITH THE HELP OF THE 
EMBASSY AND WITH PRM FUNDING (REF B).  DURAK SEEMED RECEPTIVE 
ON THE ISSUE, AND SAID HE HAD SEEN SUCH "HUMAN SLAVERY" WHEN 
HE WAS AMBASSADOR IN SAUDI ARABIA FROM 2001-2004.  HE 
    ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE SOME 6 MILLION FOREIGN WORKERS THERE 
FROM VARIOUS NATIONS WHO ARE EFFECTIVELY SLAVES, WITH LITTLE 
OR NO FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT.  ACCORDING TO DURAK, SOME OF THESE 
PEOPLE ARE NEVER ABLE TO EARN THE MONEY NECESSARY TO LEAVE 
SAUDI ARABIA AND RETURN HOME, WHILE OTHERS ARE ACTUALLY HELD 
-- ALMOST PHYSICALLY -- AGAINST THEIR WILL. 
 
----------------------------------- 
COMMENT: VATICAN WARY BUT WELCOMING 
----------------------------------- 
 
8.  (C) THE HOLY SEE CANNOT HELP BUT BE WARY OF THE PROSPECT 
OF TURKEY'S LARGE ISLAMIC POPULATION ENTERING INTO GREATER 
EUROPE.  ITS BATTLE AGAINST ENCROACHING SECULARISM ON THE 
CONTINENT IS DIFFICULT ENOUGH WITHOUT OPENING AN AMBIGUOUS 
SECOND FRONT AGAINST A COMPETING RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE. 
NEVERTHELESS, THE HOLY SEE'S POSITION ON TURKEY'S EU BID IS 
CONSISTENT WITH ITS CONSTANT MESSAGE OF ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS 
TOLERANCE; THE VATICAN CANNOT STAND IN THE WAY OF A POLITICAL 
DECISION IN FAVOR OF TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP ON RELIGIOUS OR 
 
VATICAN 00001164  002.2 OF 003 
 
NOTABLE GAP" BETWEEN 
EUROPEAN CULTURE, WITH ITS PROFOUND CHRISTIAN ROOTS, AND 
MUSLIM THOUGHT.  WHILE THE HOLY SEE MAY BE "OPEN" TO ISLAM 
AND WANT TO PROMOTE TOLERANCE AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN 
EUROPE, IT IS ALSO NOT EAGER TO SEE ITS MORAL INFLUENCE IN 
    ITS BACKYARD DILUTED FURTHER THAN IT ALREADY HAS BEEN.  THE 
VATICAN'S GOAL IS AN OPEN, MULTI-RELIGIOUS, AND TOLERANT 
EUROPE IN WHICH THE HOLY SEE CONTINUES TO HAVE AN INFLUENTIAL 
MORAL AND CULTURAL VOICE.  END COMMENT.) 
 
5. (C) FOR NOW, ACCORDING TO PAWLOWSKI, TURKEY STILL HAS A 
LOT OF WORK TO DO ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.  HE SAID THE HOLY SEE 
HAS HEARD MANY PROMISES, BUT LITTLE ACTION FROM THE GOT, AND 
NOTED THAT THE POPE HAD RAISED RELIGIOUS LIBERTY WHEN THE NEW 
TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO THE HOLY SEE, OSMAN DURAK, PRESENTED 
HIS CREDENTIALS RECENTLY.  THE POPE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE 
PRINCIPLES OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY WERE ENSHRINED IN THE TURKISH 
CONSTITUTION, BUT SAID THAT SUCH GUARANTEES ONLY BECAME TRULY 
RELEVANT "ONCE THEY HAVE BECOME PART OF ORDINARY LEGISLATION 
AND THEREFORE OF THE LIVING FABRIC OF SOCIETY."  HE ADDED 
THAT HE LOOKED FORWARD TO "RECOGNITION ON THE PART OF THE 
TURKISH AUTHORITIES AND INSTITUTIONS OF THE CHURCH'S 
JURIDICAL STATUS" IN TURKEY.  THE POPE STRESSED THAT THE 
CHURCH DID NOT "SEEK SPECIAL PRIVILEGES OR PREFERENTIAL 
TREATMENT," BUT MERELY FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.  PAWLOWSKI TOLD US 
THAT THE RIGHTS AT ISSUE WERE OFTEN THOSE RELATING TO 
PROPERTY; HE GAVE AS AN EXAMPLE A CONTINUING DISPUTE 
INVOLVING SOME FRENCH PRIESTS IN TURKEY WHO HAD BEEN STRIPPED 
OF THEIR LAND BY A TURKISH COURT. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM KEY ISSUE FOR TURKISH AMBASSADOR 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
6.  (C) THE AMBASSADOR RAISED THE ISSUE OF THE VATICAN'S 
ATTITUDE TO TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION WITH TURKISH AMBASSADOR 
    DURAK WHEN THE LATTER PAID AN OFFICE CALL MARCH 15.  DURAK 
SAID HE HAD PRESSED TURKEY'S EUROPEAN CREDENTIALS WHEN HE 
FIRST MET THE POPE IN FEBRUARY, NOTING THAT HIS COUNTRY'S 
EUROPEAN LAND MASS WAS GREATER THAN THAT OF BELGIUM.  DURAK 
SAID THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ISSUE WAS NOW THE CENTRAL THEME OF 
THE TURKEY-HOLY SEE RELATIONSHIP.  HE INSISTED THAT RELIGIOUS 
FREEDOM WAS ALREADY GUARANTEED BY THE TURKISH CONSTITUTION, 
BUT THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WANTED LEGAL MEANS TO SECURE AND 
PROTECT PROPERTY AND "EXPAND THEIR HOLDINGS."  ACCORDING TO 
DURAK, THE GOT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE THE VATICAN 
EVERYTHING IT WANTS WITHOUT "REWRITING THE CONSTITUTION," 
BUT WITH "SOME ADJUSTMENTS" TO CURRENT REGULATIONS WAS HOPING 
TO FIND COMMON GROUND.  DURAK'S DEPUTY TOLD DCM EARLIER THIS 
YEAR THAT THE LEGAL PROTECTIONS THE HOLY SEE IS SEEKING WERE 
ALSO NOT PROVIDED TO MUSLIM GROUPS BECAUSE OF THE SECULAR 
NATURE OF THE TURKISH CONSTITUTION. 
 
--------------------- 
TIP AND SAUDI SLAVERY 
--------------------- 
 
7. (C) DURING THE COURTESY CALL, THE AMBASSADOR ALSO BRIEFED 
DURAK ON THE EMBASSY'S ANTI-TRAFFICKING PROGRAMS, ENCOURAGING 
HIM TO ENGAGE WITH THE HOLY SEE'S DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY ON THE 
EFFORT.  HE NOTED THE RECENT G/TIP/EMBASSY VATICAN INITIATIVE 
TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF PAPAL NUNCIOS AND BISHOPS' 
CONFERENCES AROUND THE WORLD ON THE ISSUE, AND THE SUCCESS OF 
THE RECENTLY-LAUNCHED INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR 
MIGRATION (IOM) PROGRAM DEVELOPED WITH THE HELP OF THE 
EMBASSY AND WITH PRM FUNDING (REF B).  DURAK SEEMED RECEPTIVE 
ON THE ISSUE, AND SAID HE HAD SEEN SUCH "HUMAN SLAVERY" WHEN 
    HE WAS AMBASSADOR IN SAUDI ARABIA FROM 2001-2004.  HE 
ESTIMATED THAT THERE ARE SOME 6 MILLION FOREIGN WORKERS THERE 
FROM VARIOUS NATIONS WHO ARE EFFECTIVELY SLAVES, WITH LITTLE 
OR NO FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT.  ACCORDING TO DURAK, SOME OF THESE 
PEOPLE ARE NEVER ABLE TO EARN THE MONEY NECESSARY TO LEAVE 
SAUDI ARABIA AND RETURN HOME, WHILE OTHERS ARE ACTUALLY HELD 
-- ALMOST PHYSICALLY -- AGAINST THEIR WILL. 
 
----------------------------------- 
COMMENT: VATICAN WARY BUT WELCOMING 
----------------------------------- 
 
8.  (C) THE HOLY SEE CANNOT HELP BUT BE WARY OF THE PROSPECT 
OF TURKEY'S LARGE ISLAMIC POPULATION ENTERING INTO GREATER 
EUROPE.  ITS BATTLE AGAINST ENCROACHING SECULARISM ON THE 
CONTINENT IS DIFFICULT ENOUGH WITHOUT OPENING AN AMBIGUOUS 
SECOND FRONT AGAINST A COMPETING RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE. 
NEVERTHELESS, THE HOLY SEE'S POSITION ON TURKEY'S EU BID IS 
CONSISTENT WITH ITS CONSTANT MESSAGE OF ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS 
TOLERANCE; THE VATICAN CANNOT STAND IN THE WAY OF A POLITICAL 
DECISION IN FAVOR OF TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP ON RELIGIOUS OR 
 
VATICAN 00001164  003 OF 003 
 
NFLUENCE WITHIN A EUROPE 
WITH INCREASINGLY FEEBLE CHRISTIAN ROOTS, THE HOLY SEE WILL 
NOT PROVIDE COVER FOR XENOPHOBIC OPPOSITION TO TURKEY'S 
CANDIDACY WHEN THE DEBATE HEATS UP.  IF TURKEY DOES 
EVENTUALLY JOIN THE EU, THE HOLY SEE CAN BE COUNTED ON TO ACT 
AS A FORCE FOR RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY 
    COUNTING ON ITS EU MEMBERSHIP TO PROTECT CHRISTIAN RIGHTS AND 
INTERESTS IN TURKEY. 
 
NICHOLSON 
 
NNNN 

 2004VATICA01164 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL