US embassy cable - 01VATICAN5577

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 005577 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI); FOR AF/E LAUREN MORIARTY; 
 
FOR AF/SE (VERNON) PLEASE PASS TO SENATOR DANFORTH FROM 
 
AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON 
 
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN MESSAGE NO. 186/01 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/11 
TAGS: PREL, OPDC, SU, VT, AGMT 
SUBJECT:  OFFICIAL-INFORMAL 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR R. JAMES NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 
1.5 (A) AND (D). 
 
1.(U) SENATOR, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR 
APPOINTMENT  AS THE PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR PEACE IN 
SUDAN.  THE DIFFICULT SITUATION IN THAT COUNTRY IS ONE OF 
THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES FOR THE VATICAN ON THE AFRICAN 
CONTINENT. 
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PAGE 02        VATICA  05577  262037Z 
 
2.(SBU) BECAUSE OF THE VATICAN'S DEEP INTEREST IN THE 
CONFLICT IN SUDAN, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO PAY A 
VISIT DURING YOUR UPCOMING TRAVEL TO DISCUSS THE 
SITUATION WITH THE VATICAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER ARCHBISHOP 
TAURAN.  THE SUDAN IS AN AREA IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES 
AND THE VATICAN SHARE MUTUAL CONCERNS AND OBJECTIVESNLS. 
 
3.(C) MY EMBASSY HAS ENGAGED THE VATICAN ON THE SUDAN 
ISSUE OVER THE LAST YEAR.  IN 2000, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN 
SUDAN WAS A CANDIDATE FOR A UN SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT, 
EMBASSY VATICAN APPROACHED THE VATICAN FOREIGN MINISTER 
AND ASKED HIM TO USE THE VATICAN'S INFLUENCE IN CERTAIN 
COUNTRIES TO DEFEAT THE SUDANESE CANDIDACIES.  VATICAN 
NUNCIOS (AMBASSADORS) IN SEVERAL KEY COUNTRIES MET WITH 
THEIR HOST COUNTRY FOREIGN MINISTERS AND PRESENTED THE 
CASE.  THE SUDANESE CANDIDACY WAS DEFEATED, AND THE 
VATICAN PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE. 
4.(C) EMBASSY VATICAN HAS ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN 
DEVELOPING CONTACTS AND SOURCES THAT CAN BE USEFUL TO 
YOUR MISSION.  ARCHBISHOP FITZGERALD, THE DIRECTOR OF THE 
PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTERELIGIOUS DIALOG AND AN EXPERT 
ON ISLAM, HAS MAINTAINED CONTACTS WITH ISLAMIC LEADERS IN 
SUDAN AND IS AN EXPERT ON THE SITUATION.  FABRIZIO 
RICARDI, A LEADER OF THE SANT'EGIDIO COMMUNITY (THE 
VATICAN NGO WHICH NEGOTIATED THE MOZAMBIQUE PEACE TREATY) 
HAS BEEN TRAVELLING TO THE SUDAN ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE 
COMBONI FATHERS, A MAJOR CATHOLIC MISSIONARY ORDER WHICH 
IS BASED IN ROME AND THE ITALIAN CITY OF PESARO, HAS A 
LARGE PRESENCE IN SOUTHERN SUDAN. 
 
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5.(SBU) IF YOUR SCHEDULE PERMITS, I WOULD RECOMMEND A 
DISCUSSION WITH THE VATICAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON NEXT 
STEPS IN THE SUDAN.  I WOULD ALSO USE THE OPPORTUNITY OF 
YOUR VISIT TO INTRODUCE YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO VATICAN AND 
OTHER OFFICIALS WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR 
MISSION. 
 
6. (SBU) I HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STOP IN VATICAN CITY, 
I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE HEARING DIRECTLY FROM YOU ON 
WAYS I CAN BETTER ENGAGE THE VATICAN IN PURSUIT OF YOUR 
OBJECTIVES.  NICHOLSON 
 
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 2001VATICA05577 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL