Cablegate: Vatican Verbatim

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 003976

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE, EUR/PD/PA, EUR/CACEN, AF/C, EAP/CM,
EAP/BCLTV, DRL/IRF

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 124/01

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PARM MOPS AM KZ CH VM RW PHUM PARM MOPS AM KZ CH VM RW VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: VATICAN VERBATIM

1. THE JULY 14-20 EDITION OF NEWS AND VIEWS FROM VATICAN
CITY.

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 VATICA 03976 01 OF 02 282136Z
CONTENTS:

- VATICAN RATIFIES NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY
- WHITE HOUSE ACCUSED OF PUTTING "SPIN" ON PAPAL SPEECH
- 2008 OLYMPICS: CHINA NOT ONLY RIGHTS VIOLATOR TO WIN GAMES
- NEW BISHOPS FOR VIETNAM
- POPE TO VISIT ARMENIA AND KAZAKHSTAN
- ITALY WILL NOT EXTRADITE RWANDAN PRIEST

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RATIFICATION OF COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY
--------------------------------------------- --------

2. ARCHBISHOP RENATO MARTINO, PERMANENT OBSERVER OF THE
HOLY SEE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, HAS DELIVERED THE HOLY SEE'S
INSTRUMENT OF RATIFICATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST
BAN TREATY TO THE UN HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK. THE TREATY
WAS ADOPTED BY THE UNGA ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1996, AND SIGNED BY
THE HOLY SEE ON SEPTEMBER 24 OF THE SAME YEAR. ARCHBISHOP
MARTINO EXPRESSED THE VATICAN'S FIRM SUPPORT FOR ENDING
ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN SMALL ARMS, THE CONVENTION FOR THE TOTAL
ELIMINATION OF LAND MINES, THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION
AND THE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS TREATY. WHILE THE HOLY SEE HAS
PERMANENT OBSERVER STATUS IN THE UNITED NATIONS, IT HAS FULL
(VOTING) MEMBERSHIP IN THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY
COMMISSION.

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VATICAN SAYS WHITE HOUSE PUT "SPIN" ON STEM CELL REMARKS
--------------------------------------------- -----------

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 VATICA 03976 01 OF 02 282136Z
3. VATICAN SPOKESMAN, JOAQUIN NAVARRO-VALLS HAS ACCUSED
UNNAMED WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS OF TRYING TO PUT "A SPIN" ON
THE POPE'S WORDS TO PRESIDENT BUSH. WHEN POPE JOHN PAUL II
MET THE PRESIDENT JULY 23 HE CONDEMNED THE "CREATION FOR
RESEARCH PURPOSES OF HUMAN EMBRYOS." NAVARRO-VALLS SAID JULY
25 THAT THE POPE WAS NOT OPENING THE POSSIBILITY OF AN
ETHICAL USE AND DESTRUCTION OF EMBRYOS CREATED FOR OTHER
PURPOSES. BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WERE CITED AS SAYING
THE POPE'S WORDS, WHILE CLEARLY REFERRING TO EMBRYOS CREATED
FOR RESEARCH, MIGHT NOT COVER OTHER EMBRYOS, SUCH AS THOSE
CREATED FOR IN VITRO FERTILIZATION BUT NOT IMPLANTED IN A
UTERUS. NAVARRO-VALLS STATED THAT THE DELIBERATE DESTRUCTION
OF A HUMAN EMBRYO - NO MATTER HOW OR WHY IT WAS CREATED - IS
MORALLY UNACCEPTABLE, EVEN IF THE AIM IS TO HELP OTHERS.
(NOTE. WHEN A VATICAN-BASED JOURNALIST ACCUSED NAVARRO-VALLS
OF PUTTING HIS OWN "SPIN" ON THE POPE'S SPEECH, HE RETORTED,
"NO, IT IS NOT SPIN, IT IS THE TRUTH." END NOTE).

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VATICAN NEWS AGENCY: OLYMPICS OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE CHINA
--------------------------------------------- ------------

4. THE DIRECTOR OF VATICAN MISSIONARY NEWS AGENCY "FIDES,"
FATHER BERNARDO CERVELLERA, SUPPORTS BEIJING HOSTING THE
2008 OLYMPIC GAMES. IN A JULY 13 STATEMENT, CERVELLERA SAID
REFUSING TO GIVE CHINA THE GAMES WOULD HAVE BEEN
UNPRODUCTIVE AND HYPOCRITICAL. HE POINTED OUT THAT AUSTRALIA
HAD BEEN AWARDED THE 2000 OLYMPICS DESPITE A LONG HISTORY OF
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST ITS ABORIGINAL POPULATION.
CERVELLERA SAID THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES WOULD PROBABLY USE
THE GAMES "AS A SORT OF DRUG TO SOFTEN THE HARDSHIPS OF THE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 VATICA 03976 01 OF 02 282136Z
COMING YEARS" AS IT FACES ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES. HOWEVER,
ACCORDING TO CERVELLERA, A TIME OF HARDSHIP AND STRUGGLE IS
NOT WHEN A NATION SHOULD BE IGNORED - RATHER IT IS A TIME TO
ENGAGE IT. "THE ALTERNATIVE IS ISOLATION, WHICH WOULD ALLOW
THE REGIME TO COMPLETELY SUFFOCATE ALL DISSIDENCE," HE SAID.
THE PRIEST ADDED THAT WHILE CHINA WAS LIKELY TO INCREASE
SECURITY MEASURES DURING THE GAMES, THERE IS NO WAY IT CAN
PREVENT INTERACTION BETWEEN CHINESE CITIZENS AND THE TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF ATHLETES AND TOURISTS WHO WILL TRAVEL TO
BEIJING FOR THE OLYMPICS.

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NEW BISHOPS FOR VIETNAM
-----------------------

5. POPE JOHN PAUL II HAS APPOINTED THREE NEW BISHOPS FOR
VIETNAM. THEY INCLUDE A SUCCESSOR FOR THE INCUMBENT BISHOP

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ3935

PAGE 01 VATICA 03976 02 OF 02 282137Z
ACTION EUR-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AF-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00
WHA-00 SRPP-00 EAP-00 EB-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 AC-01 NEA-00 NRRC-00
NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-01 OIC-02 OMB-01 PA-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 SS-00 STR-00
TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 SA-00 SSD-00 PMB-00 PRM-01
DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /009W
------------------0B3FB1 282137Z /69
R 270954Z JUL 01
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY BEIJING
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY HANOI
AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
AMEMBASSY KIGALI
AMEMBASSY YEREVAN
AMEMBASSY ALMATY

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 003976

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE, EUR/PD/PA, EUR/CACEN, AF/C, EAP/CM,
EAP/BCLTV, DRL/IRF

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 124/01

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PARM MOPS AM KZ CH VM RW PHUM PARM MOPS AM KZ CH VM RW VT VTPREL
SUBJECT: VATICAN VERBATIM

OF PHAN THIET DIOCESE, BISHOP-DESIGNATE PAUL NGUYEN THANH
HOAN; AN ASSISTANT BISHOP FOR HO CHI MINH CITY, BISHOP-
DESIGNATE JOSEPH VU DUY THONG; AND A BISHOP FOR THE DIOCESE
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 VATICA 03976 02 OF 02 282137Z
OF BUI CHU, BISHOP-DESIGNATE JOSEPH HOANG VAN TIEM. THE JULY
14 NOMINATIONS COME ONE MONTH AFTER A VATICAN DELEGATION
VISITED VIETNAM TO DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT OF BISHOPS WITH
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

--------------------------------------------- ---
POPE TO VISIT ARMENIA AND KAZAKHSTAN IN SEPTEMBER
--------------------------------------------- ---

6. THE VATICAN PRESS OFFICE HAS CONFIRMED POPE JOHN PAUL
II'S SEPTEMBER 22-27 VISIT TO ARMENIA AND KAZAKHSTAN. THE
LEADER OF THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH, CATHOLICOS KAREKIN
II OF ETCHMIADZIN, INVITED THE POPE TO JOIN IN CELEBRATIONS
IN HONOR OF THE 1,700TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE
NATION. THE VISIT WILL INCLUDE CEREMONIES WITH MINORITY
CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS IMPORTANT ECUMENICAL EVENTS.
(NOTE. THE VATICAN HAS A WARM RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ARMENIAN
APOSTOLIC CHURCH (ONE OF SIX INDEPENDENT ORIENTAL ORTHODOX
CHURCHES) AND SEVERAL DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES HAVE ALREADY
BEEN RESOLVED. MANY ECUMENISTS REGARD THE DIALOGUE BETWEEN
THE VATICAN AND THE ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH AS A MODEL FOR
NEGOTIATIONS WITH OTHER ORTHODOX CHURCHES. MUCH OF THE
SUCCESS IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE CLOSE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN POPE
JOHN PAUL II AND THE LATE CATHOLICOS, KAREKIN I. END NOTE).

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ITALY WILL NOT EXTRADITE RWANDAN PRIEST: VATICAN PRESSURE?
--------------------------------------------- -------------

7. THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT WILL NOT EXTRADITE A RWANDAN
CATHOLIC PRIEST WANTED ON GENOCIDE CHARGES BY THE
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PAGE 03 VATICA 03976 02 OF 02 282137Z
INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL. FATHER ATHANASE SEROMBA,
ACCUSED OF ORDERING HIS CHURCH TO BE BULLDOZED, CRUSHING AND
KILLING UP TO 2500 PARISHIONERS, HAS BEEN LIVING IN FLORENCE
UNDER THE NAME ANASTASIO SUMBA BURA. ALTHOUGH ITALIAN
AUTHORITIES SAY THAT AN AD HOC DECREE IS REQUIRED FOR
COOPERATION WITH THE ICTR, SOURCES OF "THE SUNDAY TIMES"
CITE DISCREET PRESSURE FROM THE VATICAN AS THE REAL REASON
FOR THE DELAY. A STATEMENT FROM THE ITALIAN BISHOPS
CONFERENCE SAID SEROMBA SHOULD BE GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF THE
DOUBT, AND THAT EVENTS IN RWANDA DURING THE GENOCIDE ERA
WERE SHROUDED IN CONFUSION. (NOTE: THE VATICAN BELIEVES AN
ANTI-CATHOLIC PREJUDICE LIES BEHIND EFFORTS TO PROSECUTE
PRIESTS AND NUNS FOR ALLEGED GENOCIDE CRIMES. END NOTE).
MERANTE

UNCLASSIFIED

>

2001VATICA03976 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

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