US embassy cable - 02VATICAN1738

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VATICAN TELLS AMBASSADOR: POWELL IS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY

Identifier: 02VATICAN1738
Wikileaks: View 02VATICAN1738 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Vatican
Created: 2002-04-08 11:42:00
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Tags: IS PHUM PREL 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.


 
C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 001738 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE (D. MENNUTI) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2012 
TAGS: IS, PHUM, PREL, VT 
SUBJECT: VATICAN TELLS AMBASSADOR: POWELL IS NEEDED 
IMMEDIATELY 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 1.5 (A) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) FOREIGN MINISTER TAURAN CALLED AMBASSADOR THIS MORNING 
(4/08).  TAURAN SAID THAT HE HAD JUST SPOKEN TO THE PAPAL 
NUNCIO IN JERUSALEM WHO WAS CONTACTED BY SENIOR ARAFAT AIDE 
MUSTAFI.  MUSTAFI ASKED THAT THE VATICAN CONVEY TO US THE 
NEED FOR SECRETARY POWELL TO GO IMMEDIATELY TO JERUSALEM.  HE 
SAID IF THE SECRETARY WAITS UNTIL THURSDAY OR FRIDAY "HE WILL 
ONLY FIND RUINS AND DEAD".  TAURAN URGED THE SECRETARY TO 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  01738  081232Z 
TAKE THIS MESSAGE SERIOUSLY. 
 
2. (C) THE ISRAELIS TOLD US EARLIER IN THE DAY THAT TAURAN 
CALLED AMBASSADOR LAMDAN ALSO THIS MORNING.  ACCORDING TO 
ISRAELI EMBASSY SOURCE, IT WAS A "DIFFICULT CONVERSATION". 
ISRAELIS CLAIM THAT TAURAN SAID IF REPORTS ARE TRUE THAT 
ISRAELI SOLDIERS HAVE FIRED INTO THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY, 
THE VATICAN WILL REACT "VERY STRONGLY".  NICHOLSON 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
> 
 

 2002VATICA01738 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL 


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