US embassy cable - 03VATICAN2046

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 002046 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI), EAP/TC (KEEGAN AND KINGSLAND) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2013 
TAGS: PREL, SOCI, TBIO, CH, TW, VT 
SUBJECT: HOLY SEE EXPRESSES MORAL SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN'S 
PARTICIPATION IN WHO GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
 
REF: HARDT-KEEGAN 4/28 E-MAIL 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: CDA BRENT HARDT FOR REASONS 1.5(B) AND (D) 
 
1. (C)  HOLY SEE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER PAROLIN CONTACTED 
    DCM APRIL 28 TO CONVEY THE VATICAN'S MORAL SUPPORT FOR 
TAIWANESE PARTICIPATION IN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, 
WHICH THEY HAVE CAST AS A "HUMANITARIAN ISSUE."  PAROLIN 
UNDERSTOOD FROM THE TAIWANESE, WHO HAD CALLED ON HIM THAT 
DAY, THAT THE TAIWANESE WERE COORDINATING THEIR STRATEGY IN 
REGARD TO THE UPCOMING WHO GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN GENEVA WITH 
THE U.S., EU AND JAPAN.  THE TEXT OF THE HOLY SEE'S PRO 
MEMORIA, PREVIOUSLY FAXED TO EAP/TC, FOLLOWS: 
 
2. (U)  BEGIN TEXT OF PRO MEMORIA 
 
PARTICIPATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (ROC) 
TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (OMS) 
 
THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA TO THE HOLY SEE HAS 
PROVIDED THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE WITH THE FOLLOWING 
"CONFIDENTIAL" INFORMATION: (NOTE: THIS IS NOT A USG 
CLASSIFICATION. A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT WAS FAXED TO 
POST VIA UNCLASSIFIED TELEPHONE LINE.) 
 
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, JAPAN AND THE EUROPEAN UNION 
AGREE TO HAVE TAIWAN PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE 
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION.  THE THREE POLITICAL ENTITIES ARE 
STUDYING THE JURIDICAL-PRACTICAL FORMULA FOR SUCH 
PARTICIPATION AND, FOR THIS PURPOSE, ARE HOLDING MEETINGS IN 
VIEW OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE O.M.S. SCHEDULED IN 
GENEVA ON MAY 19-28, 2003. 
 
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ON ITS OWN, 
IS PARTICULARLY ACTIVE IN OBTAINING SUCH RESULT.  ON MONDAY, 
APRIL 28, A PRIVATE MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE IN WASHINGTON 
    WITH PROF. KAU YING-MAO, VICE-MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF 
TAIWAN, AND OFFICERS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, WITH THE 
PURPOSE OF SETTING UP A STRATEGY TO BE ADOPTED ON OCCASION OF 
THE FORTHCOMING WORLD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE O.M.S. 
PROF. KAU ALREADY EXPLAINED TO THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE 
DURING THE 3 APRIL MEETING WITH MONS.PAROLIN, UNDERSECRETARY 
FOR RELATIONS WITH STATES, THE POSITION OF HIS OWN GOVERNMENT 
CONCERNING THE R.O.C. PARTICIPATION IN THE O.M.S.,S WORKS. 
 
THE SECTION FOR RELATIONS WITH STATES OF THE SECRETARIAT OF 
STATE, WISHES TO EXPRESS MORAL SUPPORT TO THE INITIATIVE OF 
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, THINKING THAT IT IS A HUMANITARIAN 
ISSUE. 
 
THE PRESENT INFORMATION SHOULD BE DELIVERED AT THE EARLIEST 
POSSIBLE TIME TO THE ATTENTION OF MR. DAVID KEEGAN AND MS. 
DEBORAH KINGSLAND, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TAIWAN COORDINATION 
STAFF OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT. 
 
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 28, 2003 
 
END TEXT 
 
3. (C)  COMMENT:  THE TAIWAN EMBASSY WAS CLEARLY WORKING THIS 
COMMUNICATION ACTIVELY, HAVING PHONED EMBASSY POLOFF TO ALERT 
HIM BEFORE THE VATICAN CALLED.  THEY CITED THE SARS EPIDEMIC 
AS A REASON TO MOVE QUICKLY TO BRING TAIWAN INTO THE WHO. THE 
HUMANITARIAN FOCUS, TOGETHER WITH THE POTENTIAL SUPPORT OF 
THE USG AND OTHER PLAYERS, ALLOWED THE HOLY SEE IN THIS CASE 
TO VOICE ITS SUPPORT WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING FUTURE DIALOG WITH 
THE PRC ABOUT THE CHURCH'S STATUS IN CHINA. END COMMENT. 

HARDT 
 
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 2003VATICA02046 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL