Vatican View On Conditions for War with Iraq
Conditions Governing Military Intervention in Iraq
According to Vatican Secretary for Relations with States
ROME, SEPT. 10, 2002 (ZENIT.org-Avvenire).- The decision to launch a
military operation against Iraq must be made at the United Nations, and only
after all options are exhausted, says Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican
Secretary for Relations with States, in this interview.
Q: John Paul II described Sept. 11 as “a dark day in the history of
humanity.” A year later, has a spark of light been lit?
Archbishop Tauran: That abominable act brought about universal condemnation
of terrorism; it has stimulated jurists to define terrorism better, and has
led those responsible for societies to examine the causes of this inhuman
violence.
Moreover, both the Jan. 24 meeting in Assisi, as well as the “Peoples and
Religions” conference in Palermo a few days ago, highlighted that religion
can never justify terrorism and that all believers have a common task: to
disarm hatred.
Given that good can always come from evil, I think it is something very
positive that these acts of blind violence and indescribable pain have been
unanimously condemned. In particular, in reading the statements of so many
bishops, I observe that a fundamental truth has been emphasized, which all
believers profess and, in particular, Jews, Christians and Muslims: human
life is sacred; it comes from God, Creator of all things; and only God has a
right over it.
Moreover, it has been proclaimed, and not just in churches but everywhere,
that all violence is contrary to the law of God and that problems can only
be solved with dialogue, law and love. In this way, a world is built in
which men can live in peace and justice. There is no other way.
Q: Meanwhile, however, the clouds of war are gathering over Iraq. What is
the Holy See’s position?
Archbishop Tauran: Always to favor dialogue — never to isolate a country or
a government, so that it can insist on duty with greater efficacy from the
one who has transgressed the rules of international law.
Obviously, evil cannot be combated with another evil, adding evil to evil.
If the international community, inspired by international law and by the
resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, considers recourse to
force opportune and proportionate, this should take place with a decision in
the framework of the United Nations, after having studied the consequences
for the Iraqi civilian population, as well as the repercussions that it
might have on the countries of the region and on world stability.
Otherwise, only the law of the most powerful would prevail. It is possible
to question legitimately if the type of operation being contemplated is an
adequate means to make authentic peace flower.
Q: The wound in the Middle East is still open. In your opinion, what are the
basic conditions to arrive at a stable peace?
Archbishop Tauran: First of all, that arms be silenced. Then, that one and
all respect the other and his legitimate aspirations; that all apply the
rules of international law; that the Occupied Territories be evacuated; and
that a special statute be elaborated, guaranteed internationally, to
safeguard the unique character of the holy places of the three religions in
Jerusalem.
Then the international community should be more present on the site, to help
the contenders look at, and speak to, one another.
Q: This year, the Pope has insisted a lot on the condemnation of terrorism
and the rejection of all connivance of religion with violence. What effect
have his teachings had on world public opinion?
Archbishop Tauran: I believe that the Pope’s numerous appeals in this
connection have had the great merit of helping all to understand that there
cannot be a theology of terror, that some extremist groups inspired by Islam
cannot be confused with authentic Muslims.
Many initiatives and statements have repeated that there is solidarity in
faith among Jews, Christians and Muslims, which must be the source of
reconciliation for all societies.
Q: And, what effect has it had on governments?
Archbishop Tauran: Many heads of state who have visited the Vatican have
expressed satisfaction over the fact that the Holy See alerted before any
possible confusion and has wisely directed an independent word to all.
Many have appreciated particularly what the Pope said to the international
community last Jan. 10: “To kill in the name of God is a blasphemy and
perversion of religion, and I repeat this morning what I said in my message
of Jan. 1: ‘It is a profanation of religion to proclaim oneself a terrorist
in the name of God, to do violence to man in his name. Terrorist violence is
contrary to faith in God the Creator of man; in God who cares for him and
loves him.'”
Q: Have the Holy See’s relations with the Muslim world changed since Sept.
11?
Archbishop Tauran: I think that at present it is clear that to combat
terrorism does not mean to combat Islam. The U.S. bishops, who are in
contact with a numerous community of the Islamic religion, were wise in
affirming it immediately after Sept. 11. The Pope and his collaborators have
repeated it on many occasions.
In this connection, I would like to recall what His Holiness said to the
representatives of the world of culture in Kazakhstan, on Sept. 24, 2001: “I
wish to reaffirm the Catholic Church’s respect for Islam, authentic Islam:
the Islam that prays, that is in solidarity with the needy. Calling to mind
the errors of the past, including the recent past, all believers must join
forces so that God will never be hostage to the ambitions of men. Hatred,
fanaticism and terrorism profane the name of God and disfigure the authentic
image of man.”
Q: In sum, do you think that terrorism has been combated effectively over
these 12 months, or is there something that remains to be done?
Archbishop Tauran: What is important is that at present no responsible
politicians worthy of this name and no religious leader can justify
terrorism, regardless of the place where terrorism wishes to perpetrate its
work of death. This is already in itself a very important result.
Those who are culpable, of course, must be punished and placed in a
situation where they cannot cause harm. But we must pay attention not to
confuse justice with vengeance and must avoid that whole populations pay for
the cruelties of those responsible for the attacks. But much still remains
to be done.
The Holy Father recalled this specifically last Saturday: to combat
situations of violence and inequality among peoples, to put an end to wars
that remain to be resolved, to inculcate in young generations a culture of
legality and tolerance. The media, in particular, must pay attention and not
publish images that incite mistrust, hatred, abuse.
And, finally, the way in which the history of religion is taught in schools
is extremely important: if we wish the situation not to be as it was before
Sept. 11, it is indispensable to promote a culture of reciprocal respect.
ZE02091001
2. From former U.S. President Jimmy Carter:
“The Troubling New Face of America”
Fundamental changes are taking place in the historical policies of the
United States with regard to human rights, our role in the community of
nations and the Middle East peace process — largely without definitive
debates (except, at times, within the administration). Some new approaches
have understandably evolved from quick and well-advised reactions by
President Bush to the tragedy of Sept. 11, but others seem to be developing
from a core group of conservatives who are trying to realize long-pent-up
ambitions under the cover of the proclaimed war against terrorism.
The full text is available at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A38441-2002Sep4?language=printer
Se est·n produciendo cambios fundamentales en la trayectoria polÌtica de EE
UU con respecto a los derechos humanos, nuestro papel en la comunidad de
naciones y el proceso de paz en Oriente PrÛximo, la mayorÌa de las veces sin
debates concluyentes, excepto los que a veces se celebran dentro del
Gobierno.
Algunos planteamientos nuevos han evolucionado comprensiblemente desde
reacciones r·pidas y juiciosas por parte del presidente George W. Bush ante
la tragedia del 11-S, pero otros parecen provenir del n?cleo de
conservadores que, bajo la tapadera de la proclamada guerra contra el
terrorismo, intenta conseguir objetivos que ambicionaba desde hacÌa largo
tiempo.
El texto completo del ìEl inquietante nuevo rostro de EE UUî, se puede
encontrar en:
http://www.elpais.es/articulo.html?anchor=elpepiopi&xref=20020912elpepiopi_12&type=Tes&date=