US embassy cable - 02VATICAN5640

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Identifier:	02VATICAN5640
Wikileaks:	View 02VATICAN5640 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Vatican
Created:	2002-11-20 09:09:00
Classification:	UNCLASSIFIED
Tags:	PREL QA VT
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

UNCLAS VATICAN 005640 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI); NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
 
TAGS: PREL, QA, VT 
SUBJECT: VATICAN AND QATAR ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS 
 
 
1.   THE HOLY SEE ANNOUNCED NOVEMBER 18 THAT IT HAS 
ESTABLISHED FORMAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH QATAR.  THE 
HOLY SEE WILL BE REPRESENTED AT THE LEVEL OF NUNCIO AND 
QATAR BY AN AMBASSADOR. THE HOLY SEE HAS DIPLOMATIC 
RELATIONS WITH MOST MOSLEM STATES WITH THE GLARING EXCEPTION 
OF SAUDI ARABIA, OMAN, AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.  IT 
ALSO HAS DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE ARAB LEAGUE AND THE 
PALESTINIAN LIBERATION ORGANIZATION. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  05640  201030Z 
2.    QATAR'S CATHOLIC POPULATION NUMBERS AROUND 45,000 - 
MOSTLY MIGRANT WORKERS FROM THE PHILIPPINES - SUPPORTED BY 8 
PRIESTS WHO ALSO WORK IN YEMEN, SAUDI ARABIA, BAHRAIN, THE 
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, AND OMAN. 
 
3.   COMMENT: THE HOLY SEE CONTINUES TO SEEK TO INTENSIFY 
ITS DIALOGUE WITH ISLAMIC STATES, PRIMARILY TO ENSURE 
ADEQUATE PASTORAL CARE FOR RESIDENT CATHOLICS.  IN THE WAKE 
OF 9/11, HOWEVER, THE DIALOGUE HAS TAKEN ON GREATER URGENCY 
AS THE POPE AND HIS COLLABORATORS WORK TO AVOID A "CLASH OF 
CIVILIZATIONS" BETWEEN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY, AND BETWEEN 
THE ARAB WORLD AND THE WEST.  END COMMENT. 
 
NICHOLSON 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 
 

 2002VATICA05640 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED