US embassy cable - 03ROME1526

UNCLAS ROME 001526 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y (ADDING SUBJECT TAGS) 
SENSITIVE 
 
NEA/NGA TO NATE JENSEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, IZ, IT 
SUBJECT: TFIZ01: CHALDEAN PRELATE WANTS TO CELEBRATE PALM 
SUNDAY MASS IN BASRA 

REF: A. PHONE CONVERSATION: MANSOUR - NEA/NGA NATE 
 
        JENSEN APR 9 
     B. EMAIL: BASS - EUR/WE MARA TEKACH-BALL APR 9 
 
1. (SBU) MSGR. PHILIP NAJIM, THE SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 
CHALDEAN CHURCH IN ITALY AND THE PROCURATOR OF THE CHALDEAN 
PATRIARCHATE OF BABYLON TO THE HOLY SEE, ASKED TO MEET WITH 
RELIGIOUS MINORITIES OFFICER AND NEA WATCHER APRIL 9.  MSGR. 
NAJIM THANKED THE USG FOR "OVERTHROWING SADDAM," AND 
EXPRESSED GENERAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE STATE OF THE CHALDEAN 
CHURCH IN IRAQ AND SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL 
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN IRAQ ESPECIALLY FROM THE 
SHIITES (UNDER-REPRESENTED IN A SADDAM GOVERNMENT THAT 
PROTECTED THE CHRISTIANS IN IRAQ) IN A POST-SADDAM IRAQ. 
 
2. (SBU) MSGR. NAJIM WAS PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL TO THE BRITISH 
FORCES THAT WERE PROTECTING THE CHALDEAN CHURCH IN BASRA.  HE 
(A BRITISH CITIZEN TRAVELING ON A BRITISH PASSPORT) SAID HE 
HOPED TO TRAVEL TO BASRA (THROUGH KUWAIT AND UMM KASR) APRIL 
11 TO BRING ASSISTANCE AND MONEY TO THE BISHOP OF THE 
CHALDEANS IN BASRA.  HE WAS PLANNING ON CELEBRATING PALM 
SUNDAY MASS APRIL 13 IN THE CHALDEAN CHURCH IN BASRA. 
ITALIAN RAI TELEVISION WAS GOING TO FILM THE MASS SERVICE AND 
AIR IT IN ITALY ON GOOD FRIDAY ALONG WITH THE HOLY FATHER'S 
CELEBRATION. 
 
3. (SBU) MSGR. NAJIM SAID HE WAS HOPING TO GO TO BAGHDAD 
APRIL 12 TO MEET THE TWO SENIOR CHALDEAN BISHOPS (CURRENTLY 
LEADING THE CHALDEAN CHURCH IN IRAQ SINCE THE PATRIARCH'S 
HEALTH WAS FAILING) NOW STAYING IN THE NUNCIATURE IN BAGHDAD. 
     HE ASKED IF THE US MILITARY COULD PROVIDE A SAFE CONDUCT FOR 
HIM FROM BASRA TO BAGHDAD AND BACK APRIL 12.  EMBASSY 
OFFICERS PROMISED TO CHECK WITH THE DEPARTMENT BUT ADVISED 
MSGR. NAJIM THE US MILITARY WAS UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO 
PROVIDE A SAFE CONDUCT FOR HIM GIVEN THE UNSTABLE SITUATION 
IN THE REGION. 
 
4. (U) THE UK EMBASSY IN ROME IS AWARE OF AND WORKING ON THIS 
POTENTIAL VISIT TO BASRA. 
 
5. (U) THIS CABLE WAS CLEARED BY EMBASSY VATICAN. 
 
6. (U) MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
SEMBLER 
 
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 2003ROME01526 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED