DECLARATION ON VATICAN MEETING ON SITUATION IN YUGOSLAVIA

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 1999 (VIS) - Following is the declaration issued last evening by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls on yesterday's meeting in the Vatican on the situation in Yugoslavia:

"Under the presidency of Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, a meeting took place on the afternoon of Tuesday March 30, to which ambassadors to the Holy See of NATO member countries and permanent members of the UN Security Council were invited.

"The purpose of the meeting was to inform the ambassadors of the Holy See position concerning the current situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and to have an exchange of opinions in this regard.

"Cardinal Sodano mentioned Pope John Paul II's concern for the peoples who are suffering and Holy See action to contribute to a speedy solution to the crisis.

"Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, expressed the Holy See position with regard to: a) appreciation for efforts made in recent months by the international community to end the dramatic situation of the peoples in Kosovo; b) necessity to end military operation so that violence may not have the last word; c) urgent sending of humanitarian aid for refugees and evacuees; d) involvement of the UN and the OSCE in the peace process.

"Information was also presented with regard to steps taken in recent times by Secretary of State with various governments and international organizations."

OP;MEETING; YUGOSLAVIA;...;NAVARRO-VALLS; SODANO;VIS;19990331;Word: 240;