Viewing cable 06VATICAN256, TURKEY: VATICAN BACKS INTEGRATION

Viewing cable 06VATICAN256, TURKEY: VATICAN BACKS INTEGRATION

 

Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
06VATICAN256	2006-12-07 17:05	2010-12-10 21:09	CONFIDENTIAL	Embassy Vatican

VZCZCXRO9388
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHSR
DE RUEHROV #0256/01 3411758
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 071758Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0582
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0610

Thursday, 07 December 2006, 17:58
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 VATICAN 000256 
SIPDIS 
SIPDIS 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA 
EO 12958 DECL:  12/7/2016 
TAGS SOCI, PHUM, TU, VT 
SUBJECT: TURKEY: VATICAN BACKS INTEGRATION 
REF: A. A: VATICAN 249
 ¶B. B: ANKARA 6593, ET AL.
VATICAN 00000256 001.2 OF 002
CLASSIFIED BY: Peter Martin, Pol/Econ Chief, Vatican, State.

REASON: 1.4 (b), (d)
------------ 
Summary
------------ 
¶1. (C) While not officially endorsing Turkey’s entry into

the EU (ref a), the Holy See continues to support the 

dialogue and reform process connected to the issue. Top 

officials, including the pope, have spoken positively in 

public and private about European integration. Although 

they are critical of the religious freedom situation in 

Turkey, officials recognize that the EU entry process offers

an opportunity to bring Turkey along on these matters.

In his December 6 audience, the pope expressed emphasized

his hope that Turkey would be a “bridge of friendship and

of fraternal cooperation between the East and West.” Post

continues to engage on the issue, focusing on the opportunity

presented by integration and EU entry to ameliorate the 

situation for Catholics and other Christians in Turkey.

A high-level visit from the Department could be very helpful

in highlighting the matter for the Holy See and eliciting

further useful public and private comments. Please see 

paragraphs 5-6 for action request.
---------------------- 
“Positive” Process
---------------------- 
¶2. (C) Holy See Undersecretary for Relations with States

(Deputy FM equivalent) Pietro Parolin told the Charge December

6 that the Holy See continues to support the “positive” 

process of dialogue and reform connected to Turkey’s EU bid .

(Recent public statements from other Holy See officials 

have borne a similar positive message on European integration.)

The Vatican’s position on Turkey’s EU accession has not

changed (ref a), despite inaccurate media reports following

Pope Benedict’s meeting with PM Erdogan . In fact, neither

the pope nor the Vatican have endorsed Turkey’s EU membership

per se; rather, the Holy See has been consistently open to

accession, emphasizing only that Turkey needs to fulfill

the EU’s Copenhagen criteria to take its place in Europe.

If that occurs, Parolin reiterated, “we would see no obstacle”

to Turkey’s joining the EU -- a development which, he agreed,

has the potential to promote greater rights for religious

minorities in Turkey.
--------- 
Caveats
--------- 
¶3. (C) Parolin does have some concerns about the situation.

One great fear is that Turkey could enter the EU without

having made the necessary advances in religious freedom.

He insisted that EU members - and the U.S. - continue to

press the GoT on these issues. We noted that the continuing

dialogue and process for EU entry provide just such a forum

for this pressure, and cautioned that deadlines and 

ultimatums would be counterproductive -- robbing Turkey of

a powerful incentive to enact needed reforms, and depriving

the West of valuable leverage on the issue. Parolin took

the point, but said that short of “open persecution”, it

couldn’t get much worse for the Christian community in Turkey,

where limited property rights and other factors have left

Christians enjoying “freedom of belief, but hardly a full

freedom of religion”. Other Vatican officials expressed 

disappointment to us over President Sezer’s veto of nine

articles of the recently passed Foundations Law affecting 

religious minorities (ref b). Parolin noted that a list of

particular problems -- outlined in a document put out by 

the Turkish Catholic bishops two years ago -- remains valid

today as an explanation of the troubles Catholics face in Turkey.
----------------------- 
Pope Speaks Again
VATICAN 00000256 002.2 OF 002
----------------------- 
¶4. (C) Parolin confirmed that the pope’s trip to Turkey

had been very positive for inter-religious relations. 

The “tense atmosphere” in Turkey preceding the visit may

have eased somewhat. With regard to Erdogan’s incorrect 

assertion that the pope had expressed his specific support

for Turkey’s EU membership, Parolin expressed certainty that

the PM hadn’t misunderstood the pontiff; but probably just

wanted to get some good media coverage from the meeting.

The pope expressed the “same position we have always had”,

though perhaps in a “nicer way”. The general message from

the Holy See on the issue, in any case, has been positive.

At his weekly audience December 6, the pope expressed his

hope for “joint Christian and Muslim action on behalf of

human rights” and emphasized his hope that Turkey would be a 

“bridge of friendship and of fraternal cooperation between

the East and West.”
------------------------------------ 
Comment and Action Request
------------------------------------ 
¶5. (C) The Holy See will not officially endorse Turkey’s EU

entry, but positive comments from the pope and other officials

in support of the dialogue and reforms that are part of 

integration and the entry process receive a lot of play in 

the European media. The pope’s Regensburg speech , which made

clear that he is not naove about the challenges presented by 

Islam, gives added heft to his favorable words on Turkey.

Private comments from Vatican officials to European diplomats

here also carry some weight - particularly in the traditionally

Catholic countries. Our emphasis on using integration and EU

entry as an opportunity to make life better for Christians in

Turkey, will resonate with the Vatican, and could lead to more

Holy See action, both public and private. Despite Parolin’s

insistence that those in favor of Turkey’s EU entry must do

more to push for reforms, he is on the same page with us on

the overarching issue: in essence, both Turkey and Europe need

to see diversity as a strength, not a threat.
¶6. (C) At this critical juncture we have an opportunity to

catalyze a more active Holy See voice on Turkey. We hope a

senior Department official such as A/S Fried or DAS Bryza

can visit in the near future to highlight the matter for

the Holy See and encourage them to do more to push a positive

message on Turkey and integration. SANDROLINI