Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12576 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AF AMGT ASEC AMED AEMR APER AORC AR ARF AG AS ABLD APCS AID AU APECO AFFAIRS AFIN ADANA AJ ADCO AA AECL AADP ACAO ANET AY APEC AORG ASEAN ABUD AGR AROC AO AE AM AODE AL ACABQ AGMT AX AMEX ATRN AFGHANISTAN AZ ASUP AND ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AGAO AC ADPM ASIG AUC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ACOA ASCH AFU AINF AMG ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL ADM AN AIT AMCHAMS ALOW ACS
BR BA BK BD BU BEXP BO BM BT BRUSSELS BIDEN BTIO BE BY BB BL BG BP BC BBSR BH BX BF BWC BN BTIU BMGT BILAT
CA CASC CS CU CWC CBW CO CH CE CI CDG CVIS CG CM CICTE CMGT COUNTER CPAS COUNTRY CJAN CIDA CD CT CODEL CBE CW CDC CFED CONS CONDOLEEZZA CL COM CR CKGR CHR CVR CIA CLINTON CY COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CN CARICOM CB CACS CSW CIC CITT CACM CDB CF CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC CAC CNARC CV CROS CIS CBSA CEUDA CARSON CAPC COPUOS CTR
DR DA DK DHS DPRK DEPT DEA DJ DISENGAGEMENT DE DOMESTIC DOD DOE DTRA DS DEFENSE DO DAO DCM DEAX
EFIN ECON EAID ENRG EAIR EC ELAB ETRD EINV ETTC ECIN EPET EG EAGR EFIS EUN ECPS EU EN EIND ELTN EINT ECA EPA EWWT EMIN ENVI ENGR ETRC EXTERNAL EI ELN ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ET EZ EK ES EINVEFIN ETRDECONWTOCS ER EUR ETC ENVR EAP ENIV ECONOMY EINN EFTA ECONOMIC EXBS ELECTIONS ECUN ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EAIDS EREL EINVETC ECONCS EUMEM ETRA ESA ECINECONCS EAIG ETRO EUREM EUC ENERG ERD EEPET EUNCH EXIM EFINECONCS ETRN ESENV ENNP EINVECONSENVCSJA ERNG
FI FR FTA FARC FJ FTAA FAC FBI FAO FAS FM FINR FREEDOM FOR FINANCE FOREIGN FOI FDA FMLN FO FISO
GV GG GM GH GOV GOI GL GT GF GR GCC GAERC GE GZ GA GAZA GY GLOBAL GTIP GERARD GANGS GTMO
HA HR HO HK HU HILLARY HI HURI HUMAN HYMPSK HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IS IC IR IT IN IAEA IBRD ITU ILO IZ ID ICRC IPR ISRAELI IIP IMO INMARSAT IWC IV ITPGOV ITALIAN IO INTERNAL IRS ICTY IA INTERPOL IRAQI IEA INRB IL ICAO ICJ INR IMF ITALY IAHRC IZPREL IRAJ ITF IQ ILC IF ITPHUM ISRAEL IACI ICTR IEFIN INTELSAT INDO IDP IRC ITRA IBET INRA INRO IDA IGAD ISLAMISTS
JA JUS JO JOSEPH JM JP JAMES JOHN JOHNNIE
KCRM KNNP KDEM KFLO KTIP KFRD KWMN KJUS KSCA KSEP KFLU KOLY KHLS KCOR KTBT KPAL KISL KIRF KTFN KPRV KAWC KUNR KV KIPR KTIA KTDB KPAO KZ KBCT KN KPKO KSTH KSUM KIDE KS KU KWBG KPAONZ KOMC KNUC KMDR KE KNNPMNUC KSTC KWAC KERG KACT KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KSCI KGHG KHDP KVPR KICC KPRP KBIO KCIP KTLA KMPI KHIV KCSY KTRD KCFE KGIC KRVC KNAR KSPR KMRS KNPP KDRG KJUST KMCA KOCI KPWR KFIN KFSC KCMR KTER KRCM KIRC KSEO KNEI KCFC KSAF KSAC KR KG KCHG KAWK KGCC KPLS KREL KMFO KFTFN KTEX KCOM KO KLIG KDEMAF KBTR KRAD KGIT KVRP KPAI KICA KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KHUM KREC KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KBTS KCRS KWNM KRFD KVIR KMIG KDDG KRGY KMOC KIFR KID KAID KWMNCS KPOA KPAK KRIM KHSA KENV KOMS KWMM KNSD KX KCGC KCRCM KNUP
LE LY LI LH LTTE LG LO LAB LOG LT LABOR LU LA
MARR MNUC MX MOPS MO MCAP MASS MY MZ MTCRE MIL ML MPOS MP MG MD MK MA MI MOPPS MR MTS MLS MILI MAR MU MEPN MAPP MEPI MASC MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MAS MTCR MT MCC MIK MARAD MAPS MV MILITARY MDC MEPP MEDIA MASSMNUC MUCN MC MTRE MRCRE MQADHAFI
NZ NU NP NO NATO NI NL NS NAFTA NDP NIPP NPT NE NZUS NH NR NA NSF NG NSG NC NEW NRR NATIONAL NT NASA NAR NV NSSP NK NATOPREL NPG NSFO NSC NORAD NW NGO NPA
OTRA OVIP OPCW OPDC OREP OAS OPIC OECD OFDP OPRC OIIP OEXC ODIP OSCE OIE OSCI OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OFFICIALS OVP OIC OHUM ON OCII OES OPAD OCS
PGOV PREL PRAM PTER PREF PARM PHUM PINR PA PE PM PK PINS PMIL PROP PALESTINIAN PBTS PARMS PHSA POL PO PROG POLITICS PBIO PL PTERE PRGOV PORG PP PS PGOF PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA PINF PNG POLICY PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PAO PHUMBA PSEPC PNAT PNR POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PROV PBT PAK PGOC PY PLN PGIV PHUH PF PRL PG PHUS PTBS PU POV POLITICAL PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PINL PAS PDOV PHUMPGOV POGOV PREO PEL PHUMPREL PCI PAHO PSI PAIGH POSTS
QA
RO RU RS RP RW RICE RM RSP RF RCMP RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL RELATIONS REACTION RFE ROOD REGION REPORT RSO ROBERT
SENV SMIG SNAR SOCI SP SY SYRIA SZ SU SA SCUL SW SO SL SR SENVKGHG SF SI SEVN SARS SN SC SAN STEINBERG SG ST SIPDIS SNARIZ SNARN SSA SK SPCVIS SOFA SYR SANC SWE SHI SEN SHUM SH SPCE SNARCS SIPRS SAARC SCRS
TSPL TF TU TRGY TS TBIO TT TK TPHY TI TSPA TERRORISM TH TIP TC TNGD TW TX TO TRSY TN TURKEY TL TV TD TZ TBID TINT TP TFIN TAGS TR THPY
UK UNGA UN UNCHC UNSC UV US UY USTR UNHRC UP UG USUN UNESCO USPS UZ USEU UNCHR USAID UNMIK UNHCR UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNDP UNAUS USOAS UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNEP UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNCSD UNDC UNICEF USNC UNCND
VE VT VZ VTPREL VM VTIZ VAT VN VC VI VTEG
WTO WTRO WS WI WZ WHO WBG WB WWARD WHA WITH WIPO WTRQ WEU WMO WA WHTI WFP WMD
XF XM XG XT XZ XA XY XK XL XW XV XB XU XS XR XH XD XC XX XE XQ XTAG XI
YM YI YE YMCS
ZI ZU ZR ZB ZJ ZP ZEALAND ZN ZL ZA ZK ZF ZANU ZO ZOELLICK

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 03VATICAN483, HOLY SEE REACTION TO SECRETARY'S UNSC

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #03VATICAN483.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
03VATICAN483 | 2003-02-06 14:15 | 2011-04-27 11:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Vatican

`

    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 SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000483

    SIPDIS

    DEPT. FOR EUR/WE MENNUTI, S/ES/O, NEA

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2013
    TAGS: IZ PREL PREL PREL PREL VT VTIZ VTIZ VTIZ

    SUBJECT: HOLY SEE REACTION TO SECRETARY'S UNSC
    PRESENTATION; POPE TO MEET WITH TARIQ AZIZ

    FEBRUARY 14

    REF: VATICAN 5756

    CLASSIFIED BY: DCM BRENT HARDT.  REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)

    -------
    SUMMARY
    -------
                           CONFIDENTIAL

    PAGE 02        VATICA  00483  01 OF 02  070959Z

    ¶1. (C) HOLY SEE OFFICIALS ARE STILL ASSESSING THE SECRETARY'S UNSC PRESENTATION, AND HAVE INDICATED THEY WILL PROVIDE A CONSIDERED RESPONSE AFTER CONFERRING WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTER.  THEY SHARE THE U.S. VIEW THAT SADDAM IS A DANGER TO THE WORLD, AND HAVE NOW COME TO SEE THE MERITS OF HIS
    REMOVAL.  THE HOLY SEE CONTINUES TO OPPOSE WAR AS A MEANS TO ACHIEVE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S OBJECTIVES IN IRAQ, AND IS INTENSIFYING ITS DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY TO HEAD OFF WAR. FOLLOWING WEEKS OF SPECULATION OF POSSIBLE HOLY SEE ENGAGEMENT WITH BAGHDAD, THE VATICAN CONFIRMED FEBRUARY 5
    THAT TARIQ AZIZ WOULD MEET WITH THE POPE FEBRUARY 14.  THE HOLY SEE'S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINSTER TOLD US THE POPE WOULD URGE BAGHDAD TO COMPLY WITH UN RESOLUTIONS TO AVOID WAR, BUT WOULD
    ALSO EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH THE SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE.  GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER JOSCHKA FISCHER WILL ALSO MEET WITH THE POPE FEBRUARY 7 TO DISCUSS IRAQ.  END SUMMARY

    --------------------------------------------- -------
    RECOGNITION OF SADDAM'S DANGER, BUT OPPOSED TO FORCE
    --------------------------------------------- -------

    ¶2. (C) IN EMBASSY'S INITIAL CONTACTS WITH THE HOLY SEE
    FOLLOWING THE SECRETARY'S PRESENTATION TO THE UNSC, VATICAN OFFICIALS HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY ARE STILL ASSESSING THE INFORMATION PROVIDED (WHICH FEW APPEARED TO HAVE WATCHED LIVE) AND WOULD OFFER AN OFFICIAL REACTION AFTER CONFERRING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER TAURAN.  HOWEVER, MIDDLE EAST COUNTRY
    DIRECTOR MONS. FRANCO COPPOLA TOLD POLOFF THAT THE VATICAN ""DOES NOT DISAGREE"" THAT SADDAM IS A DANGER BOTH TO HIS
                           CONFIDENTIAL

    PAGE 03        VATICA  00483  01 OF 02  070959Z
    PEOPLE AND TO THE WORLD, AND SHOULD BE REMOVED.  THIS GOES FURTHER THAN PREVIOUS STATEMENTS WHICH HAVE RECOGNIZED SADDAM'S DANGER, BUT DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS DEPARTURE.  COPPOLA ADDED THAT THE HOLY SEE STANDS BY ITS
    VIEW THAT WAR IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO EFFECT CHANGE IN BAGHDAD -- THOUGH HE DID NOT OFFER ANY ALTERNATIVE.  PRESSED ON THE SPECIFICS OF POWELL'S PRESENTATION OF SADDAM'S THREAT, HE SAID THE VATICAN DOES NOT HAVE A ROLE IN ASSESSING THE VERACITY OR MEANING OF THOSE FACTS -- BUT ASSUMES THE INSPECTORS WILL PLAY SUCH A ROLE.  PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL OF JUSTICE AND PEACE RENATO MARTINO TOLD VATICAN RADIO THAT THE PRESENTATION WAS ""NOT AN ADLAI STEVENSON MOMENT"" AND WOULD NOT CHANGE HIS VIEW ON THE
    NECESSITY OF WAR (THOUGH HE ACKNOWLEDGED TO THE REPORTED THAT HE HAD NOT SEEN THE PRESENTATION AND WAS BASING HIS COMMENTS ON TODAY'S MEDIA REPORTS).

    -----------------
    AZIZ TO MEET POPE
    -----------------

    ¶3.  (U) PRIOR TO THE SECRETARY'S PRESENTATION, LE MONDE AND FIGARO HAD REPORTED THAT IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ INFORMED REPORTERS HE WOULD BE MEETING WITH THE POPE FEBRUARY 14.  THE HOLY SEE WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY AZIZ'S REVELATION, BUT SUBSEQUENTLY CONFIRMED THAT AZIZ WOULD MEET THE POPE AT
    AZIZ'S REQUEST.  DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER PAROLIN TOLD DCM THAT THE POPE WOULD TELL IRAQ TO COLLABORATE ""WITHOUT RESERVATION"" WITH THE UN INSPECTORS TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE INSPECTION PROCESS AND AVOID A WAR.  AT THE SAME TIME, THE POPE WOULD ALSO LIKELY EXPRESS HIS SOLIDARITY FOR THE
                           CONFIDENTIAL

    PAGE 04        VATICA  00483  01 OF 02  070959Z
    SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE (HE HAD LAST MET WITH AZIZ IN 1998 WHEN AZIZ WAS TOURING EUROPE SEEKING TO LIFT UN SANCTIONS) AND WOULD MAKE ANOTHER APPEAL FOR THE WORLD TO AVOID WAR.  MEDIA REACTION TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAS POINTED OUT THAT THE POPE'S EFFORTS TO WORK WITH IRAQ WHEN HE HAD
    BEEN SEEKING TO VISIT ABRAHAM'S BIRTHPLACE IN IRAQ DURING THE JUBILEE YEAR PROVED UNSUCCESSFUL.  AZIZ WILL ALSO LIKELY MEET WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SODANO AND FOREIGN MINISTER TAURAN, PER NORMAL VATICAN PROTOCOL.  ITALIAN PAPERS HAVE NOTED THAT
    CATHOLIC ACTIVIST FATHER JEAN-MARIE BENJAMIN, WHO HAS MADE DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE, PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN ARRANGING THE MEETING.

    ----------------------------------
    CATHOLIC MEDIA STILL NOT CONVINCED
    ----------------------------------

    ¶4. (U) VATICAN-LINKED MEDIA GENERALLY REMAINED SKEPTICAL FOLLOWING THE SECRETARY'S PRESENTATION.  ITALY'S LEADING CATHOLIC DAILY, AVVENIRE, COMMENTED THAT THE SECRETARY'S PRESENTATION DID NOT PROVIDE THE PROOF NEEDED TO END THE POLEMICS AND DISAGREEMENTS.  THEY ASSERTED THAT ""THOSE WHO

                           CONFIDENTIAL

                               CONFIDENTIAL     PTQ4435

    PAGE 01        VATICA  00483  02 OF 02  070959Z
    ACTION EUR-00

    INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AMAD-00  CIAE-00  DODE-00  DS-00    VC-00
          TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   VCE-00   NEA-00   NSAE-00
          IRM-00   SSO-00   SS-00    DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-01   SAS-00
          SWCI-00    /002W
                      ------------------3287DF  071000Z /38
    O 061415Z FEB 03
    FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
    TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
    INFO ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
    EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 VATICAN 000483

    SIPDIS

    DEPT. FOR EUR/WE MENNUTI, S/ES/O, NEA

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2013
    TAGS: IZ PREL PREL PREL PREL VT VTIZ VTIZ VTIZ
    SUBJECT: HOLY SEE REACTION TO SECRETARY'S UNSC
    PRESENTATION; POPE TO MEET WITH TARIQ AZIZ FEBRUARY 14

    WERE SKEPTICAL BEFORE YESTERDAY ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF DISARMING IRAQ REMAIN SO.""  IN THE SAME PAPER, HOWEVER, ANOTHE ANALYST CRITICIZES THE PACIFIST DIRECTION WITHIN HE CHURCH AS LOOKING AT THE WORLD WITH BLINDERS ND IGNORING THE PROBLEMS OF IRAQ.

    -------
                           CONFIDENTIAL

    PAGE 02        VATICA  00483  02 OF 02  070959Z

    COMMENT
    -------

    ¶5. (C)AS THE HOLY SEE INTENSIFIES ITS ENGAGEMENT TO AVER
    WAR, IT HAS BEGUN TO SHIFT ITS EMPHASIS FROM MOAL ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE MORALITY OF PREVENTIVE WAR(REFTEL) TO MORE PRAGMATIC STRATEGIC ARGUMENTS. COPPOLA CONFIRMED THIS SHIFT, NOTING THAT SECRETARY OF STATE SODANO'S MOST RECENT REMARKS ON THE PRACTICAL IMPACT OF A WAR IN IRAQ -- THAT THE U.S.
    WOULD ""RISK IRRITATING A BILLION MUSLIMS"" --  REFLECTED THE VATICAN'S DESIRE TO ENGAGE BEYOND THE MORAL ARGUMENTS TO THE PRACTICAL ARGUMENTS AGAINST WAR.  OTHER SENIOR VATICAN OFFICIALS HAVE STEPPED UP CRITICISM OF THE POSSIBILITY OF WAR, THOUGH SOME HAVE ALSO BEEN AT PAINS TO REITERATE THAT THE HOLY SEE IS NOT PACIFIST AND THAT IRAQ MUST RESPECT UN RESOLUTIONS.  THE POPE'S MEETING WITH JOSCHKA FISCHER
    FEBRUARY 7 -- AT FISCHER'S REQUEST -- REFLECTS THE DEEPENING ENGAGEMENT WE CAN EXPECT FROM THE HOLY SEE AS THE THREAT OF WAR INCREASES.  THE HOLY SEE HAS PREVIOUSLY INDICATED TO US THAT IT WAS KEEPING ITS ARROWS IN ITS QUIVER UNTIL ABSOLUTELY NEEDED; IT HAS APPARENTLY DECIDED THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO
    PULL THEM OUT.  EMBASSY WILL BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE WEEK AHEAD TO MAKE THE U.S. CASE ON IRAQ WITH THE VISITS OF CATHOLIC SCHOLAR MICHAEL NOVAK, WHO WILL MAKE PRESENTATIONS ON IRAQ AND JUST WAR, AND OF POLICY PLANNING STAFF MEMBER RICHARD ERDMAN, WHO WILL ADDRESS IRAQ ISSUES AND MEET WITH
    VATICAN OFFICIALS FEBRUARY 12.  DASD BRZEZINSKI WILL ALSO MEET WITH FM TAURAN FEBRUARY 7 TO REINFORCE THE U.S. CASE AGAINST IRAQ.
    NICHOLSON

                           CONFIDENTIAL

`