HOLY SEE TAKES "DIPLOMATIC STEP" IN PINOCHET CASE

VATICAN CITY, FEB 19, 1999 (VIS) - Answering journalists' questions concerning Holy See intervention with the British government in favor of General Pinochet, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls replied:
"I can confirm that a diplomatic step was undertaken by the Holy See with the English government, as was declared yesterday in London in the House of Lords by Baroness Symons of Verhnam Dean, of the Foreign Office.

"The Holy See step was made confidentially and can be made public whenever timely, as agreed with the United Kingdom government, in accordance with international praxis.

"The Apostolic See's interest has its origin in the request of the Chilean government, which is made up of a Christian-Democrat and Socialist coalition and which claims its territorial sovereignty in the various international forums, also in the judicial field."

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