COMMUNIQUE ON ARCHBISHOP TAURAN'S MISSION IN BELGRADE

VATICAN CITY, APR 1, 1999 (VIS) - Made public this afternoon was the following communique on the mission of Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, in Belgrade, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia:

"Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, returned this afternoon to Ciampino airport at the end of his mission in Belgrade, which began this morning at 10:00 with a visit to Foreign Affairs Minister I. Jovanovic, and a meeting with the President of Serbia, Mr. M. Milutinovic.
"At 1 p.m., Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran was received by Patriarch Pavle of the Serbian-Orthodox Church.

"At 3 p.m., a meeting took place in the presidential palace with the president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic, to whom the papal envoy gave a personal letter from the Pope.

"Before leaving Belgrade, Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran made the following declaration:

'1. I did not come to offer a solution but to express the Holy Father's deep concern for the tragic situation which is causing tremendous suffering for countless people in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

'2. During my talks today, I presented the following points:

'a. Pope John Paul II is close to those who are suffering, without distinction of race, creed, or political ideas. He ardently desires that every people be respected with equal dignity. This should be fulfilled out of respect for history and law.

'b. Every day the Pope receives from numerous parties requests for aid for the people who have been mistreated, forced to flee their homes, without counting those who have been killed! The Pope believes that no political cause can ever justify cruelty, and that such a situation should cease so that humanitarian organizations can intervene and offer their help to alleviate the sufferings of so many of our brothers and sisters.

'c. The Pope is convinced of the validity of diplomacy because it is based on reciprocal respect, on listening to the legitimate aspirations of others, and on courtesy. He believes that only a political solution will offer the possibility for the people of this region to live together in peace.

'd. In a few days time, Christians of the world will celebrate Easter - the celebration of the (victory of) life over death. His Holiness, and many religious leaders, like Patriarch Pavle with whom I met, consider that it would be a great humanitarian gesture to cease all military operations during the week which separates the commemoration of this Feast, in the East and in the West (from April 4 to 11). Of course, such an initiative will have to be accompanied by measures on the ground to pursue these very objectives. Obviously, humanitarian organizations must be able to enter without risk and resume their urgent and essential work.

'3. I believe that there are neither victors nor vanquished. We should do our utmost so that peace triumph. This is what Pope John Paul II has written to President Milosevic, to Secretary General of Nato Solano, and to President Clinton.

'I hope and pray that my visit - which above all is an expression of John Paul II's ministry of peace - might help to make the voice of conscience heard in the hearts of all once again. This is the objective of the diplomatic work of the Holy See. The Pope and those who work with him believe that mankind is always better that it seems. For this reason, we never lose hope. The Holy See hopes that, once again, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, will find peace for all and will occupy the place which is hers in Europe'."

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