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| Identifier: | 02VATICAN24 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 02VATICAN24 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Vatican |
| Created: | 2002-01-02 16:22:00 |
| Classification: | UNCLASSIFIED |
| Tags: | PREL EFIN ECON VT |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS VATICAN 000024
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI)
FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 000/02
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, EFIN, ECON, VT
SUBJECT: POPE GIVES HIS BLESSING TO EURO CURRENCY
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 VATICA 00024 021816Z
1. POPE JOHN PAUL II HAS "BLESSED" THE ARRIVAL OF THE EURO
CURRENCY CALLING IT AN HISTORIC STEP. IN A JANUARY 1 ADDRESS
IN VATICAN CITY, THE POPE SAID HE WISHED PEACE AND
PROSPERITY ON THE COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION. HE SAID,
"I HOPE THAT IT (THE EURO) PROMOTES THE COMPLETE DEVELOPMENT
OF THE CITIZENS OF THE VARIOUS COUNTRIES."
2. VATICAN CITY STATE HAS CHOSEN TO ADOPT THE EURO AS ITS
CURRENCY. A 1930 ACCORD WITH ITALY, CONFIRMED IN 1998 BY THE
EUROPEAN UNION'S MONETARY COMMITTEE, ALLOWS IT TO COIN EUROS
BUT NOT TO PRINT BANK NOTES. THE ITALIAN TREASURY'S MINT IS
CHARGED WITH PRODUCING THE EURO COINS WHICH, SIMILAR TO
OTHER EUROPEAN STATES WITH A MONARCHY, WILL BEAR THE IMAGE
OF POPE JOHN PAUL II AS SOVEREIGN HEAD OF VATICAN CITY
STATE. WHILE THE EURO BECAME LEGAL TENDER ON JANUARY 1 2002,
BECAUSE OF TECHNICAL PROBLEMS THE VATICAN EDITION OF THE
COINS WILL REPORTEDLY ONLY BECOME AVAILABLE IN FEBRUARY. IN
THE MEANTIME, COINS AND BANK NOTES OF OTHER EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES MAY BE USED IN VATICAN CITY.
3. COMMENT: THE INTRODUCTION OF THE EURO IS ACTIVELY
SUPPORTED BY THE VATICAN BUT FOR POLITICAL RATHER THAN
ECONOMIC REASONS. THE VATICAN'S FINANCE MINISTER, CARDINAL
SERGIO SEBASTIANI HAS PREVIOUSLY SAID THAT THE EURO CAN BE
SEEN AS A KIND OF GUIDING STAR FOR EUROPE "SO THAT IT CAN
OVERCOME THE BARRIERS OF PAST DIVISIONS AND BECOME A
STIMULUS FOR GREATER UNITY AMONG THE NATIONS." THROUGHOUT
HIS PONTIFICATE POPE JOHN PAUL II HAS CONSISTENTLY PREACHED
HIS VISION OF A CHRISTIAN EUROPE STRETCHING FROM THE
ATLANTIC COAST TO THE URAL MOUNTAINS. HE IS LIKELY TO REGARD
THE INTRODUCTION OF EURO NOTES AND COINS AS ANOTHER
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 VATICA 00024 021816Z
INSTRUMENT TOWARDS THE REALIZATION OF THAT DREAM. END
COMMENT. MERANTE
UNCLASSIFIED
>
2002VATICA00024 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
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