Cablegate: (Sbu) Iranians Chastise Holy See On Levinson

VZCZCXRO7159
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHROV #0072 2761520
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021520Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0986
INFO RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 0005
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 1020

UNCLAS VATICAN 000072

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC KJUS PREL PHUM PTER KIRF IR VT
SUBJECT: (SBU) IRANIANS CHASTISE HOLY SEE ON LEVINSON

REF: A. 07 STATE 166406
B. VATICAN 58
C. VATICAN 21
D. 07 VATICAN 194

1. (SBU) According to Monsignor Franco Coppola, Director for the
Middle East at the Holy See Secretariat of State, the Government
of Iran recently informed the Holy See Nuncio in Teheran that it
does not have any information about the whereabouts of U.S.
citizen Robert Levinson. The GOI informed the Nuncio that the
Swiss Ambassador, on behalf of the USG, had already raised the
issue. The GOI added that the Holy See has no business
expressing interest in the case. (Note: The Nuncio raised the
Levinson case with the GOI at USG request (reftel A). End
note.)

2. (SBU) Comment: The GOI's chastising reply to the Nuncio's
inquiry about Levinson's disappearance terminates the Holy See
attempt to elicit information on the case. End comment.

GLENDON

© Scoop Media