US embassy cable - 02VATICAN1921

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 001921 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR AF/E MORIARTY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2007 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MA, VT 
SUBJECT: VATICAN CLUELESS ON MADAGASCAR 
 
REF: MORIARTY/FROWICK TELCON 04/12 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON, REASON E.O. 12958 1.5 (B,D). 
 
1. (C)  PER REFTELCON, POLOFF MET MORNING OF MONDAY, APRIL 15 
WITH VATICAN DESK OFFICER FOR MADAGASCAR AFFAIRS MONS. LUIGI 
CAVALIERE.  (NOTE: CAVALIERE, AN "OLD SCHOOL" VATICAN 
DIPLOMAT WHO ALSO COVERS AUSTRIA, FRANCE, NETHERLANDS, 
SWITZERLAND AND SEVERAL OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES, HAD -- LIKE 
POLOFF -- TO READ UP ON THE SITUATION IN MADAGASCAR BEFORE 
THE MEETING. END NOTE.)  CAVALIERE HAD NOTHING MUCH TO OFFER 
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BY WAY OF INSIGHT ON A WAY OUT OF THE DETERIORATING SITUATION 
IN MADAGASCAR.  CAVALIERE SAID THE SITUATION WAS DELICATE, 
BUT VAGUE AND FLUID, AND HADN'T MUCH MORE TO ADD.  IN FACT, 
TO UNDERSCORE THE HOLY SEE'S LACK OF FOCUS ON MADAGASCAR, HE 
CHARACTERIZED IT AS A "CIOCCOLATINO" (CHOCOLATE TIDBIT) 
COMPARED TO THE HOLY SEE'S WORRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. 
INDEED, HE LIMITED HIMSELF TO RESTATING THE POPE'S LAST 
PRONOUNCEMENT ON MADAGASCAR, READ AT THE MARCH 3 ANGELUS 
PRAYER, IN WHICH THE PONTIFF CALLED FOR PEACE, JUSTICE AND 
DIALOGUE. 
 
2.  (C)  NOTING THAT THE HOLY SEE HAD IN OTHER AFRICAN 
CONFLICT AREAS BEEN ABLE TO EMPLOY A SPECIAL DIALOGUE WITH 
INVOLVED PARTIES (E.G. THE JESUIT CONTACTS WITH MUGABE), 
POLOFF ASKED WHETHER THE CAVALIERE KNEW OF ANY PERSONAL 
CONTACTS CHURCH OFFICIALS MIGHT HAVE WITH RATSIRANGA.  HE 
KNEW OF NONE, BUT AVERRED THAT THE NUNCIO (WHO HAD JUST 
RETURNED TO ANTANANARIVO FROM A FAMILY VISIT IN ITALY) WOULD 
BE IN THE BEST POSITION TO TALK TO BOTH PARTIES. 
 
3. (C)  COMMENT:  OBVIOUSLY CAVALIERE WAS NOT SO CONCERNED AT 
DEVELOPMENTS IN MADAGASCAR ACTUALLY TO BE FOLLOWING THEM.  HE 
TOLD US HE HAD RELIED MOSTLY ON FRENCH DAILY LE MONDE 
REPORTS.  INDEED, HE SEEMED TO BE LIVING UP TO HIS NAME -- 
FOR EXAMPLE HE POOH-POOHED THE USG DECISION TO MOVE TO 
ORDERED DEPARTURE.  WE DO NOT BELIEVE HIS CAVALIER ATTITUDE 
WOULD REFLECT THE CONCERNS OF HIS SUPERIORS. 
NICHOLSON 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
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 2002VATICA01921 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL