COMMUNIQUE ON JOHN PAUL'S VISIT WITH PRESIDENT SHEVARDNADZE

VATICAN CITY, NOV 9, 1999 (VIS) - This afternoon the following joint communique, signed by Joaquin Navarro-Valls, spokesman for the Holy See, and by the spokesperson for the president of Georgia, was published:

"Upon the invitation of His Excellency, President Eduard Shevardnadze of Georgia and of the Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia, His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, the official visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, Roman Pontiff, took place on November 8 and 9 in Georgia.

"During the encounter on November 9 between the president of Georgia and the Pope, it was underlined that the arrival of the Bishop of Rome, John Paul II, in Georgia, a land protected by the Mother of God, is an event of great importance for the population of Georgia and for the entire people of the Caucasus region, for all Christians and believers of other confessions.

"His Holiness' visit coincides with the 10th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a symbol of division. The border it marked was unacceptable for true Christians because it represented not only the border between two opposing philosophies, but also two different concepts of man and of history. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the consequent reunification of Europe, is one of the greatest conquests of the 20th century.

"This event was the beginning of the creation of a unique space of freedom in the world. Today the peoples who basically contributed to the development of civilization but who, due to the vicissitudes of history, were separated from the highway of history, are now part of that space. This event fills with hope the peoples who are living in divided countries and who believe in the definitive victory of justice.

"Georgia, crossroads of culture of the North, South, West and East, seeks to give its own contribution to the consolidation of stability in the Caucasus, to the peace and prosperity of the region.

"The president of Georgia and the Roman Pontiff once again confirmed their support for the peaceful resolution of all conflicts, including the one in Abkhazia, on the basis of the fundamental principles of international law. It was underlined that crimes against humanity committed on an ethnic, racial, or religious basis create serious dangers for peace and stability throughout the world.

"Both parties underscored the problem of terrorism, which has become particularly real in these last years, and which represents a serious threat for independence and for the democratic future of the States of the region, as well as for the efforts undertaken throughout the world to consolidate peace and stability. Both sides ask the international community for a closer and more efficient collaboration against terrorism for the defense of the rights of individuals and of peoples.

"Georgia salutes the arrival of His Holiness John Paul II and expresses the hope that the cordial relations which already exist between Georgia and the Holy See will be deepened, which will favor the rapprochement between Catholics and Orthodox and the consolidation of peace in Europe and the world."

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