WikiLeaks: 2010-02-08: 10VATICAN23:
Vatican: Iran is not Respecting Human Rights

Viewing cable 10VATICAN23, C) VATICAN: IRAN IS NOT RESPECTING HUMAN RIGHTS

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OO RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHSL RUEHSR
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DE RUEHROV #0023 0391644
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O P 081644Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY VATICAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1255
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 1294

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000023 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  2/8/2035 
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV IR VT
SUBJECT: (C) VATICAN:  IRAN IS NOT RESPECTING HUMAN RIGHTS 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Julieta Valls Noyes, DCM. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
(C)   On February 8, polchief shared with the Vatican 
Secretariat of State point person for Iran, Monsignor Alberto 
Ortega, USG concerns about Tehran's violations of human rights 
since the June 12, 2009 elections.  Polchief underscored the 
importance of shining a spotlight on the human rights situation 
in Iran in advance of the February 11 anniversary of the 
founding of the Islamic Republic, to help prevent a violent 
crackdown.  Ortega agreed Iran is not respecting human rights 
and hoped that Tehran would listen to calls for restraint in 
dealing with internal dissent.  He implied the Vatican's 
leverage over Iran is very limited, and that concerns for the 
Chaldean Catholic minority in the country (about 4,000) made it 
difficult for the Holy See to openly criticize the government. 
He nevertheless was supportive of USG concerns.  Polchief 
encouraged Ortega to look for opportunities for the Holy See to 
express this support more publicly. 
 
NOYES