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| Identifier: | 03VATICAN483 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 03VATICAN483 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Vatican |
| Created: | 2003-02-06 14:15:00 |
| Classification: | CONFIDENTIAL |
| Tags: | IZ PREL PREL PREL PREL VT VTIZ VTIZ VTIZ |
| 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 SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000483
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE MENNUTI, S/ES/O, NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2013
TAGS: IZ, PREL, PREL, PREL, PREL, VT, VTIZ, VTIZ, VTIZ
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE REACTION TO SECRETARY'S UNSC
PRESENTATION; POPE TO MEET WITH TARIQ AZIZ FEBRUARY 14
REF: VATICAN 5756
CLASSIFIED BY: DCM BRENT HARDT. REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)
-------
SUMMARY
-------
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 VATICA 00483 01 OF 02 070959Z
1. (C) HOLY SEE OFFICIALS ARE STILL ASSESSING THE SECRETARY'S
UNSC PRESENTATION, AND HAVE INDICATED THEY WILL PROVIDE A
CONSIDERED RESPONSE AFTER CONFERRING WITH THE FOREIGN
MINISTER. THEY SHARE THE U.S. VIEW THAT SADDAM IS A DANGER
TO THE WORLD, AND HAVE NOW COME TO SEE THE MERITS OF HIS
REMOVAL. THE HOLY SEE CONTINUES TO OPPOSE WAR AS A MEANS TO
ACHIEVE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S OBJECTIVES IN IRAQ, AND
IS INTENSIFYING ITS DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY TO HEAD OFF WAR.
FOLLOWING WEEKS OF SPECULATION OF POSSIBLE HOLY SEE
ENGAGEMENT WITH BAGHDAD, THE VATICAN CONFIRMED FEBRUARY 5
THAT TARIQ AZIZ WOULD MEET WITH THE POPE FEBRUARY 14. THE
HOLY SEE'S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINSTER TOLD US THE POPE WOULD URGE
BAGHDAD TO COMPLY WITH UN RESOLUTIONS TO AVOID WAR, BUT WOULD
ALSO EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH THE SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI
PEOPLE. GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER JOSCHKA FISCHER WILL ALSO
MEET WITH THE POPE FEBRUARY 7 TO DISCUSS IRAQ. END SUMMARY
--------------------------------------------- -------
RECOGNITION OF SADDAM'S DANGER, BUT OPPOSED TO FORCE
--------------------------------------------- -------
2. (C) IN EMBASSY'S INITIAL CONTACTS WITH THE HOLY SEE
FOLLOWING THE SECRETARY'S PRESENTATION TO THE UNSC, VATICAN
OFFICIALS HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY ARE STILL ASSESSING THE
INFORMATION PROVIDED (WHICH FEW APPEARED TO HAVE WATCHED
LIVE) AND WOULD OFFER AN OFFICIAL REACTION AFTER CONFERRING
WITH FOREIGN MINISTER TAURAN. HOWEVER, MIDDLE EAST COUNTRY
DIRECTOR MONS. FRANCO COPPOLA TOLD POLOFF THAT THE VATICAN
"DOES NOT DISAGREE" THAT SADDAM IS A DANGER BOTH TO HIS
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 VATICA 00483 01 OF 02 070959Z
PEOPLE AND TO THE WORLD, AND SHOULD BE REMOVED. THIS GOES
FURTHER THAN PREVIOUS STATEMENTS WHICH HAVE RECOGNIZED
SADDAM'S DANGER, BUT DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF
HIS DEPARTURE. COPPOLA ADDED THAT THE HOLY SEE STANDS BY ITS
VIEW THAT WAR IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO EFFECT CHANGE IN BAGHDAD
-- THOUGH HE DID NOT OFFER ANY ALTERNATIVE. PRESSED ON THE
SPECIFICS OF POWELL'S PRESENTATION OF SADDAM'S THREAT, HE
SAID THE VATICAN DOES NOT HAVE A ROLE IN ASSESSING THE
VERACITY OR MEANING OF THOSE FACTS -- BUT ASSUMES THE
INSPECTORS WILL PLAY SUCH A ROLE. PRESIDENT OF THE
PONTIFICAL COUNCIL OF JUSTICE AND PEACE RENATO MARTINO TOLD
VATICAN RADIO THAT THE PRESENTATION WAS "NOT AN ADLAI
STEVENSON MOMENT" AND WOULD NOT CHANGE HIS VIEW ON THE
NECESSITY OF WAR (THOUGH HE ACKNOWLEDGED TO THE REPORTED THAT
HE HAD NOT SEEN THE PRESENTATION AND WAS BASING HIS COMMENTS
ON TODAY'S MEDIA REPORTS).
-----------------
AZIZ TO MEET POPE
-----------------
3. (U) PRIOR TO THE SECRETARY'S PRESENTATION, LE MONDE AND
FIGARO HAD REPORTED THAT IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ
INFORMED REPORTERS HE WOULD BE MEETING WITH THE POPE FEBRUARY
14. THE HOLY SEE WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY AZIZ'S REVELATION,
BUT SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED THAT AZIZ WOULD MEET THE POPE AT
AZIZ'S REQUEST. DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER PAROLIN TOLD DCM
THAT THE POPE WOULD TELL IRAQ TO COLLABORATE "WITHOUT
RESERVATION" WITH THE UN INSPECTORS TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF
THE INSPECTION PROCESS AND AVOID A WAR. AT THE SAME TIME,
THE POPE WOULD ALSO LIKELY EXPRESS HIS SOLIDARITY FOR THE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 04 VATICA 00483 01 OF 02 070959Z
SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE (HE HAD LAST MET WITH AZIZ IN
1998 WHEN AZIZ WAS TOURING EUROPE SEEKING TO LIFT UN
SANCTIONS) AND WOULD MAKE ANOTHER APPEAL FOR THE WORLD TO
AVOID WAR. MEDIA REACTION TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAS POINTED
OUT THAT THE POPE'S EFFORTS TO WORK WITH IRAQ WHEN HE HAD
BEEN SEEKING TO VISIT ABRAHAM'S BIRTHPLACE IN IRAQ DURING THE
JUBILEE YEAR PROVED UNSUCCESSFUL. AZIZ WILL ALSO LIKELY MEET
WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SODANO AND FOREIGN MINISTER TAURAN,
PER NORMAL VATICAN PROTOCOL. ITALIAN PAPERS HAVE NOTED THAT
CATHOLIC ACTIVIST FATHER JEAN-MARIE BENJAMIN, WHO HAS MADE
DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE,
PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN ARRANGING THE MEETING.
----------------------------------
CATHOLIC MEDIA STILL NOT CONVINCED
----------------------------------
4. (U) VATICAN-LINKED MEDIA GENERALLY REMAINED SKEPTICAL
FOLLOWING THE SECRETARY'S PRESENTATION. ITALY'S LEADING
CATHOLIC DAILY, AVVENIRE, COMMENTED THAT THE SECRETARY'S
PRESENTATION DID NOT PROVIDE THE PROOF NEEDED TO END THE
POLEMICS AND DISAGREEMENTS. THEY ASSERTED THAT "THOSE WHO
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ4435
PAGE 01 VATICA 00483 02 OF 02 070959Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DS-00 VC-00
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NEA-00 NSAE-00
IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-01 SAS-00
SWCI-00 /002W
------------------3287DF 071000Z /38
O 061415Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 000483
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE MENNUTI, S/ES/O, NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2013
TAGS: IZ, PREL, VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE REACTION TO SECRETARY'S UNSC
PRESENTATION; POPE TO MEET WITH TARIQ AZIZ FEBRUARY 14
WERE SKEPTICAL BEFORE YESTERDAY ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF
DISARMING IRAQ REMAIN SO." IN THE SAME PAPER, HOWEVER,
ANOTHE ANALYST CRITICIZES THE PACIFIST DIRECTION WITHIN HE
CHURCH AS LOOKING AT THE WORLD WITH BLINDERS ND IGNORING THE
PROBLEMS OF IRAQ.
-------
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 VATICA 00483 02 OF 02 070959Z
COMMENT
-------
5. (C)AS THE HOLY SEE INTENSIFIES ITS ENGAGEMENT TO AVER
WAR, IT HAS BEGUN TO SHIFT ITS EMPHASIS FROM MOAL ARGUMENTS
ABOUT THE MORALITY OF PREVENTIVE WAR(REFTEL) TO MORE
PRAGMATIC STRATEGIC ARGUMENTS. COPPOLA CONFIRMED THIS SHIFT,
NOTING THAT SECRETARY OF STATE SODANO'S MOST RECENT REMARKS
ON THE PRACTICAL IMPACT OF A WAR IN IRAQ -- THAT THE U.S.
WOULD "RISK IRRITATING A BILLION MUSLIMS" -- REFLECTED THE
VATICAN'S DESIRE TO ENGAGE BEYOND THE MORAL ARGUMENTS TO THE
PRACTICAL ARGUMENTS AGAINST WAR. OTHER SENIOR VATICAN
OFFICIALS HAVE STEPPED UP CRITICISM OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
WAR, THOUGH SOME HAVE ALSO BEEN AT PAINS TO REITERATE THAT
THE HOLY SEE IS NOT PACIFIST AND THAT IRAQ MUST RESPECT UN
RESOLUTIONS. THE POPE'S MEETING WITH JOSCHKA FISCHER
FEBRUARY 7 -- AT FISCHER'S REQUEST -- REFLECTS THE DEEPENING
ENGAGEMENT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THE HOLY SEE AS THE THREAT OF
WAR INCREASES. THE HOLY SEE HAS PREVIOUSLY INDICATED TO US
THAT IT WAS KEEPING ITS ARROWS IN ITS QUIVER UNTIL ABSOLUTELY
NEEDED; IT HAS APPARENTLY DECIDED THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO
PULL THEM OUT. EMBASSY WILL BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE WEEK
AHEAD TO MAKE THE U.S. CASE ON IRAQ WITH THE VISITS OF
CATHOLIC SCHOLAR MICHAEL NOVAK, WHO WILL MAKE PRESENTATIONS
ON IRAQ AND JUST WAR, AND OF POLICY PLANNING STAFF MEMBER
RICHARD ERDMAN, WHO WILL ADDRESS IRAQ ISSUES AND MEET WITH
VATICAN OFFICIALS FEBRUARY 12. DASD BRZEZINSKI WILL ALSO
MEET WITH FM TAURAN FEBRUARY 7 TO REINFORCE THE U.S. CASE
AGAINST IRAQ.
NICHOLSON
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 VATICA 00483 02 OF 02 070959Z
CONFIDENTIAL
>
@@@OASYS@@@
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ0771
PAGE 01 VATICA 00483 01 OF 02 061457Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DS-00 VC-00
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NEA-00 NSAE-00
SSO-00 SS-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-01 SAS-00 SWCI-00
/002W
------------------31FA62 061457Z /38
O 061415Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000483
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE MENNUTI, S/ES/O, NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2013
TAGS: IZ, PREL, VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE REACTION TO SECRETARY'S UNSC
PRESENTATION; POPE TO MEET WITH TARIQ AZIZ FEBRUARY 14
REF: VATICAN 5756ZG)E
9QQ|;QKQ-----
2. (C) IN EMBASSY'S INITIAL CONTACTS WITH THE HOLY SEE
FOLLOWING THE SECRETARY'S PRESENTATION TO THE UNSC, VATICAN
OFFICIALS HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY ARE STILL ASSESSING THE
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 VATICA 00483 01 OF 02 061457Z
INFORMATION PROVIDED (WHICH FEW APPEARED TO HAVE WATCHED
LIVE) AND WOULD OFFER AN OFFICIAL REACTION AFTER CONFERRING
WITH FOREIGN MINISTER TAURAN. HOWEVER, MIDDLE EAST COUNTRY
DIRECTOR MONS. FRANCO COPPOLA TOLD POLOFF THAT THE VATICAN
"DOES NOT DISAGREE" THAT SADDAM IS A DANGER BOTH TO HIS
PEOPLE AND TO THE WORLD, AND SHOULD BE REMOVED. THIS GOES
FURTHER THAN PREVIOUS STATEMENTS WHICH HAVE RECOGNIZED
SADDAM'S DANGER, BUT DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF
HIS DEPARTURE. COPPOLA ADDED THAT THE HOLY SEE STANDS BY ITS
VIEW THAT WAR IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO EFFECT CHANGE IN BAGHDAD
-- THOUGH HE DID NOT OFFER ANY ALTERNATIVE. PRESSED ON THE
SPECIFICS OF POWELL'S PRESENTATION OF SADDAM'S THREAT, HE
SAID THE VATICAN DOES NOT HAVE A ROLE IN ASSESSING THE
VERACITY OR MEANING OF THOSE FACTS -- BUT ASSUMES THE
INSPECTORS WILL PLAY SUCH A ROLE. PRESIDENT OF THE
PONTIFICAL COUNCIL OF JUSTICE AND PEACE RENATO MARTINO TOLD
VATICAN RADIO THAT THE PRESENTATION WAS "NOT AN ADLAI
STEVENSON MOMENT" AND WOULD NOT CHANGE HIS VIEW ON THE
NECESSITY OF WAR (THOUGH HE ACKNOWLEDGED TO THE REPORTED THAT
HE HAD NOT SEEN THE PRESENTATION AND WAS BASING HIS COMMENTS
ON TODAY'S MEDIA REPORTS).
-----------------
AZIZ TO MEET POPE
-----------------
3. (U) PRIOR TO THE SECRETARY'S PRESENTATION, LE MONDE AND
FIGARO HAD REPORTED THAT IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ
INFORMED REPORTERS HE WOULD BE MEETING WITH THE POPE FEBRUARY
14. THE HOLY SEE WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY AZIZ'S REVELATION,
BUT SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED THAT AZIZ WOULD MEET THE POPE AT
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 VATICA 00483 01 OF 02 061457Z
AZIZ'S REQUEST. DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER PAROLIN TOLD DCM
THAT THE POPE WOULD TELL IRAQ TO COLLABORATE "WITHOUT
RESERVATION" WITH THE UN INSPECTORS TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF
THE INSPECTION PROCESS AND AVOID A WAR. AT THE SAME TIME,
THE POPE WOULD ALSO LIKELY EXPRESS HIS SOLIDARITY FOR THE
SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE (HE HAD LAST MET WITH AZIZ IN
1998 WHEN AZIZ WAS TOURING EUROPE SEEKING TO LIFT UN
SANCTIONS) AND WOULD MAKE ANOTHER APPEAL FOR THE WORLD TO
AVOID WAR. MEDIA REACTION TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAS POINTED
OUT THAT THE POPE'S EFFORTS TO WORK WITH IRAQ WHEN HE HAD
BEEN SEEKING TO VISIT ABRAHAM'S BIRTHPLACE IN IRAQ DURING THE
JUBILEE YEAR PROVED UNSUCCESSFUL. AZIZ WILL ALSO LIKELY MEET
WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SODANO AND FOREIGN MINISTER TAURAN,
PER NORMAL VATICAN PROTOCOL. ITALIAN PAPERS HAVE NOTED THAT
CATHOLIC ACTIVIST FATHER JEAN-MARIE BENJAMIN, WHO HAS MADE
DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE,
PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN ARRANGING THE MEETING.
----------------------------------
CATHOLIC MEDIA STILL NOT CONVINCED
----------------------------------
4. (U) VATICAN-LINKED MEDIA GENERALLY REMAINED SKEPTICAL
FOLLOWING THE SECRETARY'S PRESENTATION. ITALY'S LEADING
CATHOLIC DAILY, AVVENIRE, COMMENTED THAT THE SECRETARY'S
PRESENTATION DID NOT PROVIDE THE PROOF NEEDED TO END THE
POLEMICS AND DISAGREEMENTS. THEY ASSERTED THAT "THOSE WHO
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL PTQ0772
PAGE 01 VATICA 00483 02 OF 02 061457Z
ACTION EUR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AMAD-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DS-00 VC-00
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01 VCE-00 NEA-00 NSAE-00
IRM-00 SSO-00 SS-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-01 SAS-00
SWCI-00 /002W
------------------31FA65 061457Z /38
O 061415Z FEB 03
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 000483
SIPDIS
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE MENNUTI, S/ES/O, NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2013
TAGS: IZ, PREL, VT
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE REACTION TO SECRETARY'S UNSC
PRESENTATION; POPE TO MEET WITH TARIQ AZIZ FEBRUARY 14
WERE SKEPTICAL BEFORE YESTERDAY ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF
DISARMING IRAQ REMAIN SO." IN THE SAME PAPER, HOWEVER,
ANOTHER ANALYST CRITICIZES THE PACIFIST DIRECTION WITHIN THE
CHURCH AS LOOKING AT THE WORLD WITH BLINDERS AND IGNORING THE
PROBLEMS OF IRAQ.
-------
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 VATICA 00483 02 OF 02 061457Z
COMMENT
-------
5. (C) AS THE HOLY SEE INTENSIFIES ITS ENGAGEMENT TO AVERT
WAR, IT HAS BEGUN TO SHIFT ITS EMPHASIS FROM MORAL ARGUMENTS
ABOUT THE MORALITY OF PREVENTIVE WAR (REFTEL) TO MORE
PRAGMATIC STRATEGIC ARGUMENTS. COPPOLA CONFIRMED THIS SHIFT,
NOTING THAT SECRETARY OF STATE SODANO'S MOST RECENT REMARKS
ON THE PRACTICAL IMPACT OF A WAR IN IRAQ -- THAT THE U.S.
WOULD "RISK IRRITATING A BILLION MUSLIMS" -- REFLECTED THE
VATICAN'S DESIRE TO ENGAGE BEYOND THE MORAL ARGUMENTS TO THE
PRACTICAL ARGUMENTS AGAINST WAR. OTHER SENIOR VATICAN
OFFICIALS HAVE STEPPED UP CRITICISM OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
WAR, THOUGH SOME HAVE ALSO BEEN AT PAINS TO REITERATE THAT
THE HOLY SEE IS NOT PACIFIST AND THAT IRAQ MUST RESPECT UN
RESOLUTIONS. THE POPE'S MEETING WITH JOSCHKA FISCHER
FEBRUARY 7 -- AT FISCHER'S REQUEST -- REFLECTS THE DEEPENING
ENGAGEMENT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THE HOLY SEE AS THE THREAT OF
WAR INCREASES. THE HOLY SEE HAS PREVIOUSLY INDICATED TO US
THAT IT WAS KEEPING ITS ARROWS IN ITS QUIVER UNTIL ABSOLUTELY
NEEDED; IT HAS APPARENTLY DECIDED THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO
PULL THEM OUT. EMBASSY WILL BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE WEEK
AHEAD TO MAKE THE U.S. CASE ON IRAQ WITH THE VISITS OF
CATHOLIC SCHOLAR MICHAEL NOVAK, WHO WILL MAKE PRESENTATIONS
ON IRAQ AND JUST WAR, AND OF POLICY PLANNING STAFF MEMBER
RICHARD ERDMAN, WHO WILL ADDRESS IRAQ ISSUES AND MEET WITH
VATICAN OFFICIALS FEBRUARY 12. DASD BRZEZINSKI WILL ALSO
MEET WITH FM TAURAN FEBRUARY 7 TO REINFORCE THE U.S. CASE
AGAINST IRAQ.
NICHOLSON
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 VATICA 00483 02 OF 02 061457Z
CONFIDENTIAL
>
2003VATICA00483 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
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