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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 VATICAN 003633 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT. EUR/WE (MENNUTI), IO, IO/UNP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV AORC PGOV AORC PGOV AORC VT UN VTPREL UN VTPREL UN
SUBJECT: WORKING WITH THE HOLY SEE IN INTERNATIONAL 
ORGANIZATIONS - POWERFUL ALLY AND OCCASIONAL FOE 
 
REF: VATICAN 0444 
 
------------ 
INTRODUCTION 
------------ 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY:  THE HOLY SEE ACTIVELY SEEKS TO INFLUENCE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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THE POLICIES OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS 
AND PARTICIPATES INTENSELY IN THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE TO 
PROMOTE ITS OWN AGENDA, PARTICULARLY ITS POSITION ON 
SEXUALITY AND THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY.  THE HOLY SEE WILL BE 
A U.S. ALLY ON ISSUES THAT DEFEND "HUMAN DIGNITY," SUCH AS 
TRAFFICKING, PEACEKEEPING, DEVELOPMENT AID, AND HUMAN 
RIGHTS.  IT COULD BE A POWERFUL OPPONENT ON OTHERS SUCH AS 
MILITARY INTERVENTION, SANCTIONS, THE DEATH PENALTY, AND 
ASPECTS OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.  U.S. MISSIONS TO 
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE WELL SERVED WHEN THEY 
CULTIVATE AND MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONS WITH HOLY SEE 
REPRESENTATIVES, WORKING TOGETHER WHERE OUR POSITIONS ARE 
COMPLEMENTARY, AND ENSURING U.S. POSITIONS ARE UNDERSTOOD 
WHERE VIEWS MAY DIVERGE.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
THE HOLY SEE'S MULTILATERAL FOREIGN POLICY 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (U) THE HOLY SEE IS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN A BROAD 
RANGE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS -- TYPICALLY AS AN 
"OBSERVER" -- AND WORKS WITHIN THESE FORA TO ADVANCE 
PRINCIPLES CENTRAL TO THE CHURCH'S WORLD VIEW:  PRIORITY OF 
THE HUMAN PERSON; THE PROMOTION AND, WHEN NECESSARY, THE 
DEFENSE OF PEACE; SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY BUILDING 
INITIATIVES; AND CONSTRUCTION OF AN INTERNATIONAL ORDER 
BASED ON JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS.  FM TAURAN RECENTLY 
RESTATED THE HOLY SEE'S BASIC MESSAGE TO UN MEMBER STATES: 
ALL NATIONS ARE EQUAL, WITH EQUAL DIGNITY AND RIGHT TO 
DEFENSE OF IDENTITY AND AUTONOMY; NATIONS MUST ACT IN 
SOLIDARITY (I.E., ACCORDING TO RECIPROCAL MORAL OBLIGATIONS 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        VATICA  03633  01 OF 03  231457Z 
NOT ONLY TO TREAT EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT BUT TO SEE THAT 
PEOPLES' BASIC NEEDS ARE MET).  THE HOLY SEE REGARDS THE 
UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM AS AN IDEAL FORUM AND PRIVILEGED 
PLATFORM TO ADVANCE THESE PRINCIPLES MULTILATERALLY.  AS A 
RESULT, IT HAS TENDED TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHEN FACED WITH 
THE UN'S FAILINGS, PARTICULARLY ITS BUREAUCRATIC 
DEFICIENCIES.  IT IS UNLIKELY TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT U.S. 
CRITIQUES OF THE UN.  HOWEVER, THE HOLY SEE WILL NOT 
HESITATE TO CRITICIZE THE UN AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 
DIRECTLY WHEN THESE ENGAGE IN A PERCEIVED ASSAULT ON THE 
HOLY SEE'S CORE PRINCIPLES. 
 
¶3. (U)  IN OPTING FOR PERMANENT OBSERVER STATUS RATHER THAN 
FULL MEMBERSHIP IN MOST ORGANIZATIONS, THE HOLY SEE HAS 
SOUGHT TO EMPHASIZE ITS MORAL, RATHER THAN POLITICAL, 
AUTHORITY, AND ITS UNIQUE INTERNATIONAL JURIDICAL STATUS. 
THE HOLY SEE THEREFORE OPERATES FROM A DOCTRINAL AND 
PRINCIPLE-BASED PERSPECTIVE WITHIN INTERNATIONAL 
ORGANIZATIONS TO MAINTAIN ITS REPUTATION OF BEING "SUPER 
PARTES" - A DISINTERESTED MORAL AGENT ACTING FOR THE GOOD OF 
HUMANITY.  THE HOLY SEE IS RELUCTANT TO ENGAGE IN PURELY 
"POLITICAL" MATTERS, SUCH AS THE UNSC VOTE ON SUDAN'S 
MEMBERSHIP, EVEN TO THE EXTENT OF ESCHEWING ITS VOTE ON SUCH 
MATTERS IN FORA WHERE IT HAS A VOTE.  THE HOLY SEE PREFERS 
NOT TO ENGAGE ON OPERATIONAL ISSUES SUCH AS CANDIDACIES FOR 
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, PREFERRING TO BE IN THE 
ORGANIZATION BUT NOT OF IT.  IN THE SUDAN CASE, IT DID TAKE 
AN ACTIVE BUT BEHIND THE SCENES ROLE IN DISCUSSING WITH 
OTHER UNSC DELEGATES THE INAPPROPRIATENESS OF SUDAN AS A 
UNSC MEMBER. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        VATICA  03633  01 OF 03  231457Z 
¶4. (SBU) SOME WITHIN THE CHURCH HIERARCHY HAVE QUESTIONED 
WHETHER THE HOLY SEE WOULD BE BETTER SERVED BY FULL VOTING 
MEMBERSHIP IN MORE ORGANIZATIONS, BUT AS BISHOP MARCHETTO OF 
THE COUNCIL FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS AND TRAVELERS 
RECENTLY POINTED OUT TO US, OBSRVER STATUS GIVES THE HOLY 
SEE THE BEST OF BOTH ORLDS:  IT CAN PARTICIPATE IN 
DISCUSSIONS AS ACTVELY AS ANY MEMBER, BUT RETAINS THE 
ABILITY TO SAY ABOVE THE FRAY AND "SAY THINGS THAT NEED TO 
BESAID." 
 
¶5.  (U)  THE HOLY SEE'S PRINCIPLES TRANSATE INTO A SERIES 
OF STRONGLY HELD POSITIONS ON SSUES OF PRIORITY INTEREST TO 
THE UNITED STATES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE HOLY SEE BELIEVES THAT 
WAR MUST ALWAYS BE REFUTED AND PRIORITY GIVEN TO NEGOTIATION 
AND THE USE OF JURIDICAL MEANS FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION.  IT 
WILL THEREFORE OPPOSE THE USE OF FORCE UNLESS THE 
REQUIREMENTS OF ITS JUST WAR DOCTRINE ARE FULFILLED, AS WAS 
THE CASE IN THE LIBERATION OF KUWAIT, BUT NOT IN THE 
CONTINUED MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ (REFTEL).  THE HOLY 
SEE ALSO USES MULTILATERAL DIPLOMACY TO PROTECT HUMAN LIFE 
FROM CONCEPTION TO NATURAL DEATH, AS WELL AS TO PROMOTE ITS 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ4187 
 
PAGE 01        VATICA  03633  02 OF 03  231458Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    ACQ-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DODE-00  DS-00 
      UTED-00  VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   VCE-00 
      NSAE-00  OES-01   OIC-02   SS-00    TEST-00  DSCC-00  DRL-02 
      SAS-00     /006W 
                  ------------------CF169A  231458Z /38 
R 231456Z JUL 02 
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 
GENEVA IO MISSIONS COLLECTIVE 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 VATICAN 003633 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT. EUR/WE (MENNUTI), IO, IO/UNP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV AORC PGOV AORC PGOV AORC VT UN VTPREL UN VTPREL UN
SUBJECT: WORKING WITH THE HOLY SEE IN INTERNATIONAL 
ORGANIZATIONS - POWERFUL ALLY AND OCCASIONAL FOE 
 
TRADITIONAL JUDEO-CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING OF THE FAMILY.  IT 
FAVORS GRADUAL REDUCTION IN MILITARY SPENDING AND EFFECTIVE 
DISARMAMENT, SEEKS TO PROMOTE RESPECT FOR CULTURES AND 
RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS, AND DEMONSTRATES SOLIDARITY WITH POOR 
COUNTRIES TO PROMOTE THEIR DEVELOPMENT. 
 
--------------------------- 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  03633  02 OF 03  231458Z 
POWERFUL ALLY EFFECTIVE FOE 
--------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (U) IN MANY CASES, U.S. AND VATICAN VIEWS ARE 
COMPATIBLE, AND HOLY SEE DIPLOMATS CAN BE VALUABLE ALLIES. 
WHERE THE USG SEEKS TO PROMOTE HUMAN VALUES AND RELIEVE 
HUMAN SUFFERING BY MEDIATING CONFLICTS, COMBATING DISEASE, 
AND PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS, THE HOLY SEE WILL BE A STRONG 
PARTNER.   THE HOLY SEE PERCEIVES A CLOSER THAN EVER 
CONVERGENCE WITH THE USG IN SEVERAL AREAS.  THE MOST 
UNAMBIGUOUS EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE RECENT COORDINATION OF 
POSITIONS IN SUPPORT OF A UN CONVENTION TO BAN ALL FORMS OF 
HUMAN CLONING, AN EFFORT THAT WAS EXTREMELY WELL-RECEIVED AT 
THE HIGHEST LEVELS IN THE CURIA.  POST IS ALSO ENGAGED WITH 
RELEVANT CURIA OFFICES IN A DIALOGUE TO EXPLORE QUESTIONS OF 
FOOD SECURITY IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD AND THE POSITIVE 
CONTRIBUTION TO BE MADE BY GMOS.  WHILE THE HOLY SEE HAS YET 
TO BE CONVINCED THAT USG COMMERCIAL INTERESTS ARE NOT THE 
DRIVING MOTIVATION FOR OUR SUPPORT FOR GMO'S, THEY ARE 
WILLING TO DISCUSS GMOS WITH AN OPEN MIND AS A MEANS OF 
INCREASING FOOD SECURITY.  IF WE CAN MAKE OUR CASE, THE HOLY 
SEE COULD BECOME A POWERFUL BOOSTER IN THE FAO AND THE 
COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR GMO'S AS A MEANS TO 
ALLEVIATE HUNGER.  IF, HOWEVER, THE HOLY SEE WERE TO 
CONCLUDE THAT GMOS ARE IMMORAL, IT COULD COMPLICATE OUR 
EFFORTS TO PROMOTE U.S. AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS AND 
CONTRIBUTE TO THE ALLEVIATION OF HUNGER THROUGH GMO'S. 
 
¶7.   (U) SOME WITHIN THE HOLY SEE BELIEVE THAT A FEW WESTERN 
NATIONS AND NGOS HAVE HIJACKED THE UN TO PROMOTE FEMINIST 
AND HOMOSEXUAL AGENDAS THAT REFLECT MINORITY POSITIONS 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        VATICA  03633  02 OF 03  231458Z 
WITHIN THE NGO'S HOME COUNTRIES.  AT THE CAIRO CONFERENCE, 
AS WELL AS IN BEIJING IN 1995, THE HOLY SEE FORMED EFFECTIVE 
ALLIANCES WITH CONSERVATIVE SOUTH AMERICAN AND ISLAMIC 
STATES SUCH AS GUATEMALA AND LIBYA IN SUPPORT OF ITS 
POSITION.  THE STRATEGY WAS SUCCESSFUL AND WE EXPECT IT TO 
BE USED AGAIN.  ACCORDING TO FM TAURAN, THE HOLY SEE'S BASIC 
POSITION IS THAT A FAMILY IS CONSTITUTED OF A MAN AND A 
WOMAN IN A PERMANENT RELATIONSHIP, AND THAT HUMAN NATURE AND 
UNIVERSAL RIGHTS EXIST AND ARE SANCTIONED IN THE "GREAT 
DOCUMENTS AND CONVENTIONS THAT REGULATE THE LIFE OF THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY."  TAURAN SAID THE HOLY SEE WOULD 
CONTINUE TO PROMOTE A CONSERVATIVE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN MORALITY 
OF SEXUAL ABSTINENCE OUTSIDE OF LEGAL MARRIAGE, FIDELITY 
WITHIN MARRIAGE, AND OPPOSITION TO ARTIFICIAL FORMS OF 
CONTRACEPTION, ABORTION AND THE DEATH PENALTY.  OBVIOUSLY, 
THIS APPROACH LEADS THE HOLY SEE TO BALKS AT WIDELY 
SANCTIONED APPROACHES ON SOME ISSUES SUCH AS CONDOM USE TO 
PREVENT HIV/AIDS IN AFRICA, PREFERRING TO FOCUS ON 
EDUCATION, ABSTINENCE, AND TREATMENT.  THE HOLY SEE HAS ALSO 
LOBBIED AGAINST REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INITIATIVES SUCH AS 
ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION AND ABORTION FOR WOMEN IN REFUGEE 
CAMPS DURING RECENT CONFLICTS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE 
VIGOROUSLY TO PROMOTE ITS VIEWS ON REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶8.   (SBU)  THE HOLY SEE WILL ACTIVELY CULTIVATE ALLIANCES 
WITH ANY STATE OR ORGANIZATION THAT FOSTERS TRADITIONAL 
EXPRESSIONS OF THE FAMILY, CONSERVATIVE SEXUAL AND 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        VATICA  03633  02 OF 03  231458Z 
REPRODUCTIVE POSITIONS, EQUITABLE ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION, 
AND ETHICAL PRINCIPALS THAT RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT HUMAN LIFE 
FROM CONCEPTION TO NATURAL DEATH.  THE HOLY SEE WILL BE 
AGGRESSIVE IN FOSTERING SUCH ALLIANCES, AS WHEN IT SOLICITED 
THE SUPPORT OF MOSLEM STATES DURING RECENT UN CONFERENCES. 
THE HOLY SEE ALSO ENCOURAGES SYMPATHETIC NGOS ACCREDITED TO 
THE UN TO LOBBY INDIVIDUAL STATES ON SO-CALLED MORAL ISSUES. 
VATICAN OFFICIALS ARE VERY OPEN TO DISCUSSION WITH U.S. 
OFFICIALS, ARE NOT MONOLITHIC IN VIEW, AND CAN BE CONVINCED 
BY MORAL ARGUMENTS.  TO GAIN THEIR SUPPORT, EMBASSIES SHOULD 
SEEK TO CONVEY TO HOLY SEE REPRESENTATIVES HOW OUR POLICIES 
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ADVANCING THE PRINCIPLES THEY HOLD DEAR. 
 
¶9.  (U)  THE HOLY SEE IS REPRESENTED AT THE FOLLOWING 
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS: 
 
OBSERVER STATUS: 
 
UNITED NATIONS 
UNITED NATIONS OFFICES AND SPECIALIZED INSTITUTIONS (UNHCR, 
UNICEF, ETC) 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ4188 
 
PAGE 01        VATICA  03633  03 OF 03  231458Z 
ACTION EUR-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    ACQ-00   CIAE-00  INL-00   DODE-00  DS-00 
      UTED-00  VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   VCE-00 
      NSAE-00  OES-01   OIC-02   SS-00    TEST-00  DSCC-00  DRL-02 
      SAS-00     /006W 
                  ------------------CF16A3  231458Z /38 
R 231456Z JUL 02 
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 
GENEVA IO MISSIONS COLLECTIVE 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 VATICAN 003633 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT. EUR/WE (MENNUTI), IO, IO/UNP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV AORC PGOV AORC PGOV AORC VT UN VTPREL UN VTPREL UN
SUBJECT: WORKING WITH THE HOLY SEE IN INTERNATIONAL 
ORGANIZATIONS - POWERFUL ALLY AND OCCASIONAL FOE 
 
UNITED NATIONS OFFICES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN 
SETTLEMENTS 
UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT 
UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATIONS FOR NUTRITION AND AGRICULTURE 
(FAO, IFAD, WFP) 
UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION FOR EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND 
CULTURE (UNESCO) 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        VATICA  03633  03 OF 03  231458Z 
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (REPRESENTED BY AN AMBASSADOR) 
COUNCIL OF EUROPE 
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES 
THE ARAB LEAGUE 
WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION 
ORGANIZATION FOR AFRICAN UNITY 
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR MILITARY MEDICINE 
 
FULL MEMBERSHIP WITH VOTING RIGHTS: 
 
ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE 
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY 
 
NICHOLSON 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
> 
 

 2002VATICA03633 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED