US embassy cable - 01VATICAN2748

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Identifier:	01VATICAN2748
Wikileaks:	View 01VATICAN2748 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Vatican
Created:	2001-05-18 12:57:00
Classification:	CONFIDENTIAL
Tags:	PREL PGOV BK VT
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 002748 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR: EUR (SWIGERT); EUR/BI (BEECROFT); EUR/WE 
(VANCLEVE); EUR/SCE (WEXEL) 
EMBASSY SARAJEVO FOR SENECA JOHNSON 
 
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 73/001 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/11 
 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, BK, VT 
SUBJECT:  BOSNIAN PRESIDENCY TO VISIT VATICAN? 
 
REF:  A) VATICAN 2282  B) GFROWICK/SJOHNSON EMAILS 4/6-5/9 
 
CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE JOSEPH MERANTE, REASONS E.O. 12958 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  02748  181319Z 
 
(B),  (D). 
 
1. (C)  AS PART OF OUR EFFORT TO PROMOTE GREATER 
INTERNATIONAL VISIBILITY FOR BOSNIA'S CROAT MODERATE 
POLITICIANS (REF A), POST HAS TRIED TO CONFIRM THAT THE 
HOLY SEE WILL RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE REQUEST BY 
FEDERATION OFFICIALS FOR AN INVITATION TO VISIT THE VATICAN 
(REF B).  AS YET, WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PIN DOWN OUR 
INTERLOCUTORS IN THE SECOND SECRETARIAT (MFA) ON WHETHER OR 
WHEN AN INVITATION WILL BE FORTHCOMING.  WE HAVE 
NEVERTHELESS ASSURED THEM WE BELIEVE IT WOULD BE A GOOD 
IDEA TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO THE REQUEST.  IN RESPONSE TO 
POLOFF'S QUERY 5/14, DFM MIGLIORE SAID THAT HE DID NOT KNOW 
FOR CERTAIN IF A VISIT BY FEDERATION OFFICIALS WAS IN THE 
WORKS, BUT THAT HE HAD HEARD A RUMOR ABOUT SOME BOSNIANS 
VISITING.  HE THOUGHT THE VATICAN WOULD WANT TO GO SLOWLY, 
SINCE THEY WERE NOT SURE OF THE SITUATION IN HERZEGOVINA 
AND WOULDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THINGS WORSE. 
2.  (C)  VATICAN BALKANS DIRECTOR JOSEPH MARINO TOLD POLOFF 
5/16 THAT HADN'T HEARD ABOUT ANY INVITATION TARGETED AT 
CROAT MODERATES, BUT HE SHARED WITH CHARGE LATER 5/16 THAT 
BOSNIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE HOLY SEE KRALJEVIC (A CROAT 
CATHOLIC) HAD INDICATED HE WAS WORKING ON A PROPOSAL FOR A 
VISIT BY THE BOSNIAN JOINT PRESIDENCY. 
 
3. (C) COMMENT: FROM WHERE WE SIT AN INVITATION TO THE 
JOINT PRESIDENCY LOOKS ONLY SLIGHTLY LESS DESIRABLE THAN 
THE MORE CROAT-HEAVY LINEUP FROM A FEDERATION DELEGATION AS 
DISCUSSED REF B.  WE DEFER TO DEPARTMENT AND EMBASSY 
SARAJEVO, HOWEVER, AS TO HOW TO PLAY IT.  WE WILL, IN THE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        VATICA  02748  181319Z 
MEANTIME, CONTINUE TO SEEK CLARIFICATION OF THE STATUS OF 
THE INVITATION.  END COMMENT. 
MERANTE 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
> 
 

 2001VATICA02748 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL