Viewing cable 04VATICAN3196, VATICAN STILL OPEN TO TURKEY’S EU BID

Viewing cable 04VATICAN3196, VATICAN STILL OPEN TO TURKEY’S EU BID

Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
04VATICAN3196	2004-08-18 16:04	2010-12-10 21:09	CONFIDENTIAL	Embassy Vatican

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full

text of the original cable is not available.

Wednesday, 18 August 2004, 16:27
C O N F I D E N T I A L  VATICAN 003196 
SIPDIS 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE: LEVIN; EUR/SE; EUR/ERA 
EO 12958 DECL: 08/18/2014 
TAGS EU, PHUM, PREL, SOCI, TU, VT 
SUBJECT: VATICAN STILL OPEN TO TURKEY’S EU BID 
REF: A. 03 VATICAN 1164
 ¶B. 03 VATICAN 5666  C. 03 VATICAN 5748
Classified By: Charge d’affaires D. Brent Hardt. Reasons 1.5 (b) and ( d).
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Summary
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¶1. (C) Acting Holy See Foreign Minister Parolin reaffirmed August 18 

that the Holy See remained open to Turkish EU membership, notwithstanding

recent critical comments by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Parolin emphasized

that the Holy See’s position on Turkish membership in the EU had not 

changed from the stance it has described to us in the past (ref a). If

Turkey meets the EU’s Copenhagen criteria, Parolin said, the Vatican 

sees “no obstacle” to EU membership. He clarified that Ratzinger’s 

skeptical view of EU membership for Turkey reflected the Cardinal’s 

“personal feeling,” and did not reflect the view of the Holy See.

Parolin acknowledged that some within the Holy See harbored concerns

about Turkey’s EU bid and its potential impact on the EU, but 

maintained that he believed these concerns could be addressed over

time, and would not represent insurmountable obstacles. He acknowledged

that Ratzinger’s statement was incorrectly seen as a Vatican position,

and indicated a willingness to consider clarifying its formal position

pending discussions with the Turkish Ambassador -- who had yet to raise

the issue -- and with FM Lajolo on his return to Rome later this month.

End Summary.
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Holy See Still Open to Turkish EU Membership
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¶2. (C) Acting Vatican Foreign Minister equivalent Monsignor Pietro

Parolin told Charge August 18 that the Holy See remained open to Turkish

EU membership. He affirmed that recent negative comments about Turkey’s

EU bid by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger did not reflect any change in the 

Holy See’s formal position. That position remained that, if Turkey 

fully meets the EU’s Copenhagen criteria, the Vatican sees “no obstacle” 

to EU membership. Parolin made it clear that Ratzinger’s take on the 

issue was his own, and that he was not speaking on behalf of the Holy 

See. “These were his personal feelings,” Parolin added. “Although he 

is an important member of the Curia, he does not speak for the 

Secretariat of State.”
SIPDIS
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Turkey’s EU Bid: Complexities, but no Great Obstacles
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¶3. (C) While Parolin discounted Ratzinger’s comments -- that Turkey

had always been “in permanent contrast to Europe” and that linking 

it to Europe would be a mistake -- as not reflective of Vatican 

foreign policy, he did allow that EU membership for Turkey would 

present challenges. He noted the difficulty of European integration 

for a country with such a different cultural and religious background,

citing existent problems with the integration of Muslims into European

society as reason for caution when examining Turkey’s EU hopes.

He acknowledged that there were others, including former FM Cardinal

Tauran, who share Ratzinger’s concerns. Tauran had suggested the EU 

look first to Orthodox Christian countries Ukraine and Moldova before 

addressing Turkey’s membership. Parolin affirmed that the Holy See’s

primary concern with Turkey’s EU bid remained religious freedom,

particularly the juridical status of churches in Turkey (ref a).

In his view, the “difficulties and complexities” did not represent

an insurmountable obstacle for Turkey’s EU membership, but rather

necessary topics of reflection that would have to be addressed before

moving forward on accession.
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At Odds with Papal Muslim Outreach
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¶4. (C) Charge pointed out that as an EU member, Turkey could help to 

ease tensions between the Western and Muslim worlds, illustrating how a

secular state with a Muslim population could cooperate with countries 

with a Judeo-Christian heritage. He noted that the Pope, in his outreach

to the Muslim world, has constantly preached the doctrine of inclusion

and integration, even while advocating recognition of Europe’s Christian

roots. Ratzinger’s comments, by contrast, suggested a permanent state of

conflict and division that appeared to run counter to the Pope’s broader
outreach to the Muslim world, the Charge observed. Parolin acknowledged 

this contradiction, and indicated that he believed it was possible that

Turkish EU membership could eventually help the Christian minority and

others suffering from a lack of religious freedom in Turkey. “We certainly

hope for that development,” he concluded. Charge also pointed out that

Turkey has for decades been an important member of NATO that had 

contributed significantly to the organization’s success; there was no

reason why it could not contribute equally to the EU.
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Clarification Possible
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¶5. (C) Charge noted the public confusion generated when a senior Vatican

official as influential as Cardinal Ratzinger makes a political statement

on such a sensitive issue, and emphasized the importance of clarifying 

its official position. In this regard, Charge passed Parolin an account 

of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s sharply critical response to

Ratzinger’s comments, including the strong reaction by the Turkish and

American media. Parolin had not yet seen Erdogan’s comments, and

appeared concerned by their bluntness. He also indicated his surprise

that the Turkish Ambassador had not yet contacted him, though he said

it was possible the Ambassador was on summer leave. Parolin indicated

that he would wait to hear the Turkish reaction, and would then discuss

with FM Lajolo the possibility of issuing some form of clarification

of the Vatican’s stance.
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Comment
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¶6. (C) As we saw most notably during the Iraq war when individual

Cardinals offered personal criticism of USG policy (refs b, c),

the media often characterizes the personal views of high-ranking 

prelates as “Vatican” stances. In this case, Ratzinger’s lofty stature

in matters of Catholic theology made the temptation to do so even 

greater. In fact, Ratzinger’s influence in matters of faith and morals

does not translate into direct influence upon Vatican foreign policy,

where his expertise is much more limited. Ratzinger has been a leading

voice behind the Holy See’s unsuccessful drive to secure a reference 

to Europe’s “Christian roots” in the EU constitution, and he clearly 

understands that allowing a Muslim country into the EU would further

weaken his case for Europe’s Christian foundations. In any case, the

Vatican’s official position remains one of cautious, skeptical 

openness towards Turkish integration to the EU. In fact, the Pope,

in his February address to Turkish Ambassador Durak essentially 

acknowledged Turkey’s future in Europe, telling Durak that “as Turkey

prepares to establish new relations with Europe,” the Church would

insist on “fundamental human rights” for Turkish Catholics.
HARDT
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 2004VATICA03196 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL