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

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000326 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/WE (MENNUTI), NEA/IAI (SELDOWITZ) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2012 
TAGS: IS PREL VT MEPP
SUBJECT: PRESSING VATICAN ON PALESTINIAN VIOLENCE 
 
REF: A. A) STATE 6165 B) FROWICK/MENNUTI/SELDOWITZ 
 
        EMAILS 1/18/02 
     ¶B. C) MERANTE/SILBERMAN EMAIL 1/18/02 D) STATE 3410 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR JIM NICHOLSON, REASON E.O. 12958 1.5 (B,D) 
 
¶1.  (C)  AMBASSADOR TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A FRIDAY, 01/18 MEETING 
WITH VATICAN FM EQUIVALENT JEAN-LOUIS TAURAN TO PRESS REFTEL 
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POINTS ON THE ZINNI MISSION AND TO ASK TAURAN TO REQUEST 
PRESIDENT ARAFAT TO HALT THE VIOLENCE AND TAKE STEPS TO 
PROSECUTE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KARINE A WEAPONS 
SHIPMENT.  TAURAN, WHO IN THE PAST HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE 
PROPONENT OF THE HOLY SEE'S "TILT" TOWARD THE PALESTINIANS 
AND OF VATICAN INTERESTS IN PROTECTING THE HOLY SITES IN 
JERUSALEM, TOOK THE POINTS ON BOARD, SAYING ARAFAT "WILL HEAR 
FROM US."  TAURAN ASKED THE AMBASSADOR WHETHER HE PERSONALLY 
KNEW GEN. ZINNI.  (NOTE: WE TAKE ALL THIS TO MEAN A) THAT 
SOMEONE IN THE VATICAN WILL SPEAK DIRECTLY EITHER TO ARAFAT 
OR TO ONE OF HIS PEOPLE AND B) THE VATICAN WOULD BE 
INTERESTED IN MEETING WITH GEN. ZINNI). 
 
¶2. (U) IN THE MEANTIME, AT HIS WEEKLY ANGELUS MESSAGE THE 
POPE REFERRED TO THE "DEAD END" INTO WHICH THE CONFLICTING 
PARTIES HAVE FOUGHT THEMSELVES AND CALLED FOR THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY NOT TO ABANDON THEM TO THEIR FATE. 
THIS FALLS ON THE HEELS OF HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE 
DIPLOMATIC CORPS IN WHICH HE DEFENDED ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO 
SECURITY WHILE DECRYING THE "FIFTY YEARS OF OPPRESSION" WHICH 
THE PALESTINIANS HAVE SUFFERED. 
 
¶3.  (C) ON A SOMEWHAT RELATED ISSUE, THE EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR 
TO THE HOLY SEE, FAROUK RAAFAT, DROPPED IN TO SEE THE 
AMBASSADOR FRIDAY.  RAAFAT ASKED IF THE USG WAR ON TERRORISM 
WOULD TURN NEXT TO IRAQ.  HIS DCM MET SEPARATELY ON THE SAME 
ISSUE WITH EMBASSY VATICAN DCM THE DAY BEFORE. BOTH PRESSED 
FOR THE USG TO TAKE IT SLOW ON IRAQ -- AND SEE WHETHER WE 
COULD "WAIT SADAAM OUT." 
 
¶4. (C)  COMMENT:  CLEARLY THE VATICAN WILL SEEK TO DEFEND ITS 
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OWN INTERESTS IN THE ISRAEL/PALESTINIAN CONFLICT (THE RIGHTS 
OF CHRISTIANS ABOVE ALL). BUT A FUNDAMENTAL VATICAN INTEREST 
IS SEEING AN END TO THE VIOLENCE COMMITTED AGAINST BOTH 
SIDES.  WITH THAT IN MIND WE REQUEST DEPARTMENT CONSIDER A 
ZINNI DROP BY DURING ONE OF HIS FUTURE VISITS TO THE REGION. 
WE BELIEVE THE POPE WOULD WISH TO SPEAK TO HIM DIRECTLY ABOUT 
POSSIBLE PATHS TO PEACE.  ON IRAQ, WE NOTE THAT THE VATICAN 
HAS NOT BEEN VOCAL ABOUT SANCTIONS IN RECENT WEEKS, INCLUDING 
DURING THE POPE'S ANNUAL ADDRESS.  FROM THE VATICAN 
PERSPECTIVE, SANCTIONS ARE ALWAYS BAD; FAR WORSE, HOWEVER, 
WOULD BE A MILITARY STRIKE.  IF THE USG WERE TO INITIATE A 
BOMBING CAMPAIGN IN IRAQ, THE VATICAN WOULD MOVE FROM ITS 
FIRM SUPPORT OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR IN AFGHANISTAN TO 
VIGOROUS AND PUBLIC OPPOSITION. END COMMENT. 
NICHOLSON 
SEMBLER 
 
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 2002VATICA00326 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL