US embassy cable - 03VATICAN1570

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 VATICAN 001570 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR T U/S BOLTON, EUR, EUR/WE-MENNUTI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2013 
TAGS: PREL, IZ, IZ, IZ, VT, VTPREL, VTPREL 
SUBJECT: VATICAN LOOKING FORWARD: U/S BOLTON REVIEWS 
POST-WAR IRAQ AND GLOBAL WMD THREATS WITH HOLY SEE FM AND 
SENIOR OFFICIALS 
 
REF: A. A) HARDT-PMAT 4/9 E-MAIL 
 
     B. B) 02 VATICAN 5461 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  01570  01 OF 03  131013Z 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON.  REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D). 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (C) HOLY SEE FOREIGN MINISTER TAURAN, CARDINAL STAFFORD, 
THE AMERICAN HEADS OF THE COUNCIL FOR LAITY, AND ITALIAN 
CARDINAL RUINI, WHO IS THE VICAR OF ROME AND HEAD OF THE 
ITALIAN BISHOPS CONFERENCE, TOLD UNDER SECRETARY BOLTON APRIL 
9 THAT THEY ARE LOOKING TO IRAQ'S FUTURE AND ARE FOCUSED ON 
HUMANITARIAN RELIEF AND A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE. 
 THEY CONVEYED THEIR "RESPECT" FOR THE DIFFICULT DECISION THE 
PRESIDENT HAD MADE, AND THEIR APPRECIATION FOR U.S. EFFORTS 
TO AVOID CIVILIAN CASUALTIES.  TAURAN OFFERED THE ACTIVE 
COOPERATION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN IRAQ TO FACILITATE FOOD 
AND MEDICINE DISTRIBUTION AND PREVENT LOCAL MAFIAS FROM 
PROFITING ON SUCH DISTRIBUTION, AND BOLTON ACCEPTED HIS 
OFFER.  TAURAN AND OTHERS URGED THAT THE UN BE GIVEN AN 
IMPORTANT ROLE IN IRAQI RECONSTRUCTION, AND CALLED ON THE 
U.S. TO INVOLVE AS MANY COUNTRIES AS POSSIBLE IN THE PROCESS 
OF REBUILDING IRAQ AND IN DEALING WITH CONTINUING WMD THREATS 
FROM NORTH KOREA, IRAN AND SYRIA.  TAURAN WELCOMED BOLTON'S 
AFFIRMATION OF THE U.S. DESIRE TO INTENSIFY OUR EFFORTS TO 
OVERCOME THE CURRENT ARAB-ISRAELI IMPASSE.  RUINI EXPRESSED 
HIS CONFIDENCE THAT SCENES OF JUBILANT IRAQI'S WOULD 
DRAMATICALLY SHIFT EUROPEAN OPINION ABOUT THE WAR. "IF THE 
FUTURE GOES WELL," HE SAID, "THE PAST WILL LOSE ITS 
IMPORTANCE."  END SUMMARY. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        VATICA  01570  01 OF 03  131013Z 
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VATICAN RESPECTS WAR DECISION, LOOKS TO FUTURE 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
2. (C) IN MEETINGS APRIL 9 WITH HOLY SEE FOREIGN MINISTER 
JEAN LOUIS TAURAN, VICAR OF ROME AND HEAD OF THE ITALIAN 
CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS CARDINAL CAMILLO RUINI, AND SENIOR 
AMERICAN CARDINAL JAMES FRANCIS STAFFORD, UNDER SECRETARY 
BOLTON EMPHASIZED THE PRESIDENT'S DESIRE TO CONTINUE A CLOSE 
DIALOGUE WITH THE HOLY SEE ON IRAQ AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO 
ADDRESS HUMANITARIAN PRIORITIES AND BUILD A PEACEFUL, 
DEMOCRATIC FUTURE FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE.  TAURAN AND HIS 
COLLEAGUES MADE CLEAR THAT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN 
CONTINUING A DEBATE ON THE MERITS OF WAR, BUT WERE LOOKING 
AHEAD AT HUMANITARIAN NEEDS AND IRAQ'S FUTURE.  "THE DECISION 
WAS TAKEN.  THAT'S DONE, AND WE RESPECT THE DECISION THE 
PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN," TAURAN SAID.  RUINI LIKEWISE RECOGNIZED 
THAT THE PRESIDENT HAD WEIGHED THE DECISION CAREFULLY AND 
THAT IT WAS CLEAR THE UNITED STATES WAS DOING EVERYTHING 
POSSIBLE TO PREVENT CIVILIAN CASUALTIES IN THE CONDUCT OF THE 
WAR. 
 
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OFFER TO FACILITATE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE 
------------------------------------------- 
 
3. (C) IN LIGHT OF THE HOLY SEE'S PREOCCUPATION WITH THE 
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION, TAURAN TOLD UNDER SECRETARY BOLTON 
THAT THE CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN IRAQ HAD AN EFFECTIVE, 
WELL-ORGANIZED NETWORK IN KEY IRAQI CITIES THAT WOULD BE ABLE 
TO FACILITATE THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOODS AND MEDICINES.  THE 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        VATICA  01570  01 OF 03  131013Z 
APOSTOLIC NUNCIO IN BAGHDAD, MONSIGNOR FERNANDO FILONI, HAD 
REPORTED TO TAURAN THAT, IN THE ABSENCE OF NEUTRAL POINTS OF 
DISTRIBUTION, LOCAL MAFIAS WERE SPRINGING UP, TAKING THE 
GOODS, AND PROFITEERING.  ACCORDING TO THE NUNCIO, THE LOCAL 
CHURCHES WERE WILLING TO HELP AVERT THIS.  TAURAN SAID HE HAS 
ASKED THE LOCAL BISHOPS TO MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO MEET 
WITH U.S. FORCES AND HUMANITARIAN AID PROVIDERS, AND PROVIDED 
NAMES OF BISHOPS IN KEY CITIES (REF A).  U/S BOLTON ACCEPTED 
TAURAN'S OFFER AND PROMISED TO PASS ALONG THE NAMES TO THE 
DEPARTMENT'S POLITICAL-MILITARY ACTION TEAM.  TAURAN SAID HE 
UNDERSTOOD THAT THE SITUATION IN THE HOSPITALS WAS THE MOST 
DRAMATIC AND IN NEED OF SUPPORT. 
 
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UN ROLE 
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4. (C) THE HOLY SEE HAS PUBLICLY SUPPORTED A PROMINENT ROLE 
FOR THE UN IN IRAQI RELIEF AND RECONSTRUCTION, AND CARDINALS 
RUINI AND STAFFORD ADVOCATED THAT THE U.S. SEEK TO INVOLVE AS 
MANY OTHER COUNTRIES AS POSSIBLE IN THIS PROCESS.  RUINI 
COMMENTED THAT, IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH OTHERS ON 
PRACTICAL ISSUES, SOME OF THE RECENT TENSIONS WOULD QUICKLY 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ2799 
 
PAGE 01        VATICA  01570  02 OF 03  131014Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AMAD-00  CIAE-00  INL-00   PERC-00  DS-00 
      VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    VCE-00   MED-07   NEA-00 
      NSAE-00  DHS-00   PM-00    IRM-00   SSO-00   SS-00    T-00 
      EPAE-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   G-00     SAS-00   SWCI-00 
        /007W 
                  ------------------54FF3D  131014Z /38 
O 131014Z APR 03 
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
ISLAMIC CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 03 VATICAN 001570 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR T U/S BOLTON, EUR, EUR/WE-MENNUTI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2013 
TAGS: PREL, IZ, VT 
SUBJECT: VATICAN LOOKING FORWARD: U/S BOLTON REVIEWS 
POST-WAR IRAQ AND GLOBAL WMD THREATS WITH HOLY SEE FM AND 
SENIOR OFFICIALS 
 
DISSIPATE.  BOLTON RESPONDED THAT THE UN WOULD, AS THE 
PRESIDENT HAD STATED, PLAY A VITAL ROLE.  HOWEVER, IT WAS 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  01570  02 OF 03  131014Z 
IMPORTANT NOT TO GET BOGGED DOWN IN THEOLOGICAL DEBATES ABOUT 
THE NATURE OF THIS ROLE.  THE ISSUE AT HAND WAS NOT WHETHER 
THE U.S. OR UN WOULD CONTROL IRAQ, BUT HOW SOON CONTROL COULD 
BE TURNED OVER TO A LEGITIMATE IRAQI AUTHORITY.  IN THE 
MEANTIME, IT WAS VITAL TO CONCENTRATE ON RESOLVING PRACTICAL 
ISSUES TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE.  IN THIS, THE 
UN WOULD PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE, BOLTON ASSURED HIS 
INTERLOCUTORS.  TAURAN CONCURRED THAT THIS WAS VITAL, AND 
OBSERVED THAT THE IRAQI PEOPLE WERE "INTELLECTUALLY 
WELL-EQUIPPED," WHICH WOULD FACILITATE AN EARLY TRANSITION TO 
IRAQI AUTHORITY.  TO REINFORCE THIS POINT HE QUOTED AN ARAB 
APHORISM THAT "BOOKS WERE WRITTEN IN CAIRO, PRINTED IN 
LEBANON, AND READ IN BAGHDAD."  BOLTON AFFIRMED THAT THE U.S. 
HAD NO DESIRE FOR A LONG OCCUPATION.  OUR GOALS, HE ADDED, 
WERE TO FIND AND DESTROY WMD, PRESERVE EXTERNAL SECURITY IN 
THE SHORT-TERM, AND TURN AUTHORITY OVER TO LEGITIMATE, 
DEMOCRATIC IRAQI AUTHORITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  RUINI ALSO 
WELCOMED THIS COMMITMENT, OBSERVING "IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO 
TURN AUTHORITY OVER TO IRAQI'S IN A SHORT TIME, THAT WOULD BE 
IDEAL." 
 
---------------------- 
THE BROADER WMD THREAT 
---------------------- 
 
5. (C) WITH ALL OF HIS VATICAN INTERLOCUTORS, BOLTON REVIEWED 
THE BROADER WMD THREAT, STRESSING THAT WEAPONS OF MASS 
DESTRUCTION ARE NOT MILITARY WEAPONS, AND CAN ONLY BE USED TO 
KILL CIVILIANS, AS SADDAM HUSSEIN HAD WITH HIS OWN PEOPLE. 
ALL VATICAN INTERLOCUTORS EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH WHAT HAPPENS 
NEXT, NOTING FEARS THAT THE WAR ON IRAQ COULD BE FOLLOWED 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        VATICA  01570  02 OF 03  131014Z 
WITH OTHER ACTIONS AGAINST IRAN, SYRIA, OR NORTH KOREA. 
BOLTON MADE CLEAR THAT IRAQ WAS NOT A MODEL FOR NORTH KOREA, 
IRAN OR SYRIA, AND THAT THERE IS NO 'COOKIE CUTTER' APPROACH 
TO RESOLVING THESE ISSUES.  HE POINTED OUT THAT WE WERE 
ACTIVELY PURSUING DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES IN ALL OF THESE 
CASES, AND THAT WE HOPED THESE COUNTRIES WOULD DRAW THE RIGHT 
LESSON FROM THE IRAQ EXAMPLE:  THAT IT WAS NOT WORTH IT FOR 
THEM TO CONTINUE PURSUING WMD.  ALL THREE VATICAN OFFICIALS 
EXPRESSED THEIR BELIEF THAT THE U.S. SHOULD SEEK TO WORK WITH 
OTHER COUNTRIES IN A MULTILATERAL EFFORT TO DEAL WITH THESE 
THREATS TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE. 
 
6.  (C) TURNING TO SPECIFIC COUNTRIES, TAURAN FOCUSED FIRST 
ON NORTH KOREA, ABOUT WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE HOLY SEE HAD 
LIMITED UNDERSTANDING.  BOLTON REVIEWED THE BACKGROUND TO THE 
DISCOVERY OF THE NORTH KOREAN PROGRAM AND OUR EFFORTS TO 
PERSUADE NORTH KOREA TO ABANDON ITS PROGRAM.  HE EMPHASIZED 
THAT WE WERE ACTIVELY TRYING TO ENGAGE CHINA AND RUSSIA TO 
BECOME MORE INVOLVED, WHILE WORKING WITH JAPAN AND SOUTH 
KOREA.  HE POINTED OUT THE HIGH STAKES INVOLVED, GIVEN 
SUPPORT IN JAPAN FOR A NUCLEAR PROGRAM TO COUNTER A NORTH 
KOREAN THREAT AND THE SUBSEQUENT POTENTIAL FOR AN ASIAN ARMS 
RACE BETWEEN JAPAN AND CHINA. 
 
7.  (C) ON IRAN, BOLTON OUTLINED LONG-STANDING CONCERNS THAT 
IRAN WAS PURSUING A COMPLETE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM THAT WOULD 
GIVE THE IRANIANS THE CAPACITY TO MAKE NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  HE 
REVIEWED OUR EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE RUSSIA TO CUT OFF 
ASSISTANCE, AND THE FINDINGS FROM THE RECENT VISIT OF THE 
IAEA INSPECTORS, WHICH SURPRISED MANY IN THE IAEA.  TAURAN 
ASKED WHETHER WE FOUND RUSSIA TO BE A RELIABLE INTERLOCUTOR, 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        VATICA  01570  02 OF 03  131014Z 
NOTING THAT THE HOLY SEE FOUND THEY HAD GOOD RESULTS FROM TOP 
RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP, BUT THAT THERE WAS NO FOLLOW THROUGH FROM 
OTHER PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT.  TAURAN ALSO EMPHASIZED THAT 
THE HOLY SEE REGARDED IRAN AS "A KEY COUNTRY" IN THE MIDDLE 
EAST AND URGED THAT WE SUPPORT ANY SIGNS OF A "DEMOCRATIC 
OPENING."  BOLTON SAID WE REMAINED DEEPLY CONCERNED BY RECENT 
SYRIAN ACTIONS AS WELL AS SYRIA'S CONTINUED PURSUIT OF WMD. 
TAURAN SAID HE BELIEVED THE BRITISH COULD PLAY AN IMPORTANT 
ROLE WITH SYRIA, WHILE BOLTON NOTED THAT THE FRENCH COULD 
ALSO BE CONSTRUCTIVE. 
 
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REINVIGORATING MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS 
---------------------------------------- 
 
8. (C) BOLTON ASSURED TAURAN AND THE OTHER OFFICIALS THAT THE 
U.S. WAS COMMITTED TO REINVIGORATING OUR EFFORTS TO RESOLVE 
THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CRISIS ONCE THE IRAQ CRISIS WAS 
BEHIND US.  HE ADDED THAT THE PRESIDENT WOULD DEEPEN HIS 
ALREADY CONSIDERABLE INVOLVEMENT ONCE THE NEW PALESTINIAN 
PRIME MINISTER WAS IN PLACE AND HAD AUTHORITY TO ACT 
EFFECTIVELY.  TAURAN WELCOMED THIS COMMITMENT, COMMENTING 
THAT THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN DISPUTE WAS "THE MOTHER OF ALL 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
                           CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ2800 
 
PAGE 01        VATICA  01570  03 OF 03  131014Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AMAD-00  CIAE-00  INL-00   PERC-00  DS-00 
      VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    VCE-00   MED-07   NEA-00 
      NSAE-00  DHS-00   PM-00    IRM-00   SSO-00   SS-00    T-00 
      EPAE-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   G-00     SAS-00   SWCI-00 
        /007W 
                  ------------------54FF41  131014Z /38 
O 131014Z APR 03 
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
ISLAMIC CONFERENCE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 
WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC PRIORITY 
SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY 
 
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 03 OF 03 VATICAN 001570 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR T U/S BOLTON, EUR, EUR/WE-MENNUTI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2013 
TAGS: PREL, IZ, VT 
SUBJECT: VATICAN LOOKING FORWARD: U/S BOLTON REVIEWS 
POST-WAR IRAQ AND GLOBAL WMD THREATS WITH HOLY SEE FM AND 
SENIOR OFFICIALS 
 
PROBLEMS" IN THE MIDDLE EAST. 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  01570  03 OF 03  131014Z 
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AVOIDING A CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS 
--------------------------------- 
 
9. (C) BOTH CARDINALS SPOKE AT LENGTH ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF 
AVOIDING PERCEPTIONS OF A CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS BETWEEN THE 
MUSLIM WORLD AND THE WEST -- A RECENT PREOCCUPATION OF THE 
HOLY SEE (SEPTEL).  CARDINAL STAFFORD RECOUNTED AN EXPERIENCE 
CHAIRING A MEETING IN LEBANON WHERE HE WAS SHARPLY CRITICIZED 
BECAUSE OF HIS AMERICAN NATIONALITY, AND SAID THE DEPTH OF 
HOSTILITY TOWARD THE UNITED STATES WAS DEEPLY TROUBLING TO 
HIM.  WHILE RECOGNIZING THAT CRITICISM CAME WITH THE 
TERRITORY OF BEING THE ONLY SUPERPOWER, HE ALSO BELIEVED THAT 
THE U.S. NEEDED TO ACT WITH HUMILITY AND DO A BETTER JOB OF 
DEMONSTRATING OUR CONCERN FOR THE PRIORITIES OF OTHER 
COUNTRIES. 
 
--------------------------------- 
OVERCOMING TRANSATLANTIC TENSIONS 
--------------------------------- 
 
10. (C) CARDINAL RUINI, ONE OF THE POPE'S CLOSEST 
COLLABORATORS AND SOMEONE CONSIDERED A POTENTIAL SUCCESSOR TO 
JOHN PAUL II, EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN FOR THE WEAKENING OF NATO 
AND THE UN AS A RESULT OF THE IRAQ CRISIS, AND URGED THAT WE 
ENSURE BOTH INSTITUTIONS ARE REPAIRED.  AS PRESIDENT OF THE 
ITALIAN BISHOPS CONFERENCE, RUINI IS PLUGGED INTO THE 
DOMESTIC ITALIAN POLITICAL SCENE, AND CITED HIS CONCERN THAT 
ITALY -- WHICH USED TO BE PRO-U.S. -- WAS LOSING THIS 
ORIENTATION.  HE CITED A SIMILAR WORRYING TREND IN GERMANY. 
HE NOTED A DISTRUST OF FRANCE, WHICH HE NOTED HARBORED GLOBAL 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 03        VATICA  01570  03 OF 03  131014Z 
AMBITIONS THAT WERE ALIEN TO ITALY AND GERMANY AFTER WWII. 
ALTHOUGH MOST ITALIANS REMAINED WARY OF THE FRENCH, RUINI 
WORRIED THAT THE FRENCH APPROACH COULD BECOME DOMINANT IN 
EUROPE UNLESS CURRENT DIVISIONS WERE REPAIRED.  THE KEY TO 
DOING SO, ACCORDING TO RUINI, WAS TO "MAKE CLEAR THE U.S WAS 
FOR PEACE."  IN THIS REGARD, HE OBSERVED THAT IMAGES OF 
IRAQIS WARMLY WELCOMING AMERICAN TROOPS IN THE DAYS AHEAD 
WOULD HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION.  "IF THE 
FUTURE GOES WELL," HE CONCLUDED, "THE PAST WILL LOSE ITS 
IMPORTANCE."  BOLTON ASSURED RUINI THAT THE WORLD WOULD SEE 
THAT THE U.S. MOTIVES WERE EXACTLY WHAT WE HAD SAID THEY WERE 
-- ELIMINATE THE WMD THREAT, END A BRUTAL DICTATORSHIP, AND 
GIVE THE IRAQI PEOPLE A CHANCE FOR A BETTER LIFE. 
 
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COMMENT 
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11. (C) COMING ON THE MORNING OF THE COLLAPSE OF BAGHDAD, 
BOLTON'S VISIT SERVED TO PUT AN END TO THE PRE-WAR PERIOD OF 
DIVISION OVER THE NECESSITY OF RESORT TO FORCE AND TO REFOCUS 
THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP ON THE FUTURE FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE 
AND OUR BROADER AGENDA, INCLUDING THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN 
CONFLICT.  A PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER THE MEETINGS WITH OVER 
THIRTY MEMBERS OF INTERNATIONAL, CATHOLIC, AND ITALIAN MEDIA 
EVOKED ALMOST UNIVERSALLY POSITIVE COVERAGE OF WARMING 
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND VATICAN, WHILE HIGHLIGHTING 
U.S. APPRECIATION FOR THE HOLY SEE'S WILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE 
IN HUMANITARIAN RELIEF EFFORTS.  THE HOLY SEE IS CLEARLY 
READY TO MOVE ON FROM THE PERCEPTION OF DIVISION GENERATED BY 
THE RUN-UP TO WAR AND TO MOVE AHEAD WITH HUMANITARIAN RELIEF, 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
PAGE 04        VATICA  01570  03 OF 03  131014Z 
A REINVIGORATED MIDDLE EAST PEACE EFFORT, AND CONTINUED 
EFFORTS TO BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN THE CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM 
WORLDS.  IN THIS REGARD, AN APRIL 10 PRESS RELEASE FROM THE 
VATICAN CALLED THE EVENTS IN IRAQ "AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT 
AND A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FUTURE OF THE 
POPULATION."  THE RELEASE ALSO REITERATED THE VATICAN'S 
DESIRE TO PROVIDE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE AND TO WORK WITH ALL 
CONCERNED TO CREATE LASTING PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. 
EMBASSY APPRECIATES UNDER SECRETARY BOLTON'S TIMELY VISIT AND 
RECOMMENDS WASHINGTON CONTINUE THIS HIGH-LEVEL ENGAGEMENT TO 
EXPAND COOPERATION ON THESE ISSUES. 
 
12. (C) U/S BOLTON DID NOT REVIEW THIS CABLE. 
 
NICHOLSON 
 
                       CONFIDENTIAL 
 
> 
 

 2003VATICA01570 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL