US embassy cable - 04VATICAN2890

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 002890 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE LEVIN; DRL/IRF INBODEN; EAP/K 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, EAID, PGOV, KN, VT, KS, KIRF, religious freedom 
SUBJECT: NORTH KOREA: CATHOLIC RELIEF AGENCY BUILDING 
BRIDGES 
 
REF: VATICAN 05264 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Jim Nicholson, reasons 1.5 (b and d) 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C)  The Holy See's North Korea Country Director told us 
July 9 that Caritas has reinforced its traditional emergency 
food aid programs with training programs for local North 
Korean officials.  The Vatican is cautiously optimistic that 
this focus on relationship building will create a greater 
acceptance of Western aid workers, and a growing openess in 
North Korean society that could eventually lead to a degree 
of religious freedom.  End Summary. 
 
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Food Aid Builds Relationships in the Hermit Kingdom 
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2. (C)  Holy See Country Director for North Korea, Monsignor 
Luis Montemayor, reviewed with us July 9 the work in North 
Korea of Catholic relief agency Caritas International-- one 
of the largest NGOs providing humanitarian aid in the DPRK. 
He noted that Caritas provided emergency food aid for 
immediate crises and conducted training programs for North 
Koreans in local governance and cooperation with Western aid 
agencies.  The latter, he said, are deliberately 
under-reported by Caritas for fear that media attention could 
spark a governmental crack-down on Western aid work. 
 
3. (C)  The DPRK clients in these "confidence-building 
programs" are primarily officials from "semi-governmental" 
North Korean organizations.  According to Montemayor, these 
programs not only facilitate the deployment of Caritas aid, 
but also foster long-term relationships between Western aid 
workers and North Korean officials.  He understood that local 
officials had begun to exhibit greater trust of outsiders 
after increased exposure to Westerners. 
 
4. (C)  Kathi Zellweger, Director for International 
Cooperation for Caritas Hong Kong, told us Caritas has made 
this focus on personal relationships and openness a central 
aspect of its strategy to advance its work in North Korea. 
She noted that Caritas had sponsored "exposure tours" for 
North Koreans, such as a recent a trip to China for the new 
Korean Association for Supporting the Disabled.  The North 
Koreans saw first hand the techniques the Chinese use in 
working with the disabled -- and the cooperation between the 
Chinese and Caritas.  Zellweger said that requests for study 
tours and training programs abroad are increasing, and 
Caritas now tries to introduce such exposure programs 
whenever possible. 
 
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Comment 
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5. (C) The Holy See recognizes that there is currently very 
little space in the political and social framework of the 
DPRK for religious freedom, but believes Caritas can help 
create at least a little room for outside influence in the 
country.  In addition, these programs can supplement Caritas' 
traditional emergency aid efforts to quietly build long-term 
relationships between North Koreans and outsiders.  Taking 
this long-term view, the Vatican hopes that the seeds Caritas 
sows today in North Korea that will eventually produce a more 
open society with religious freedom for all. 
 
NICHOLSON 
 
 
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 2004VATICA02890 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL