DECLARATION ON VISIT TO VATICAN OF INDONESIAN MINISTER

VATICAN CITY, JAN 20, 2001 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following declaration late yesterday:

"This morning, January 19, the Holy Father received Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Alwi Shihab, who brought a message from the president of Indonesia, Dr. Abdurrahman Wahid. Following this, the minister also met with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, and with Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States.

"The concerns of the Indonesian Catholic community following recent tragic incidents of religious intolerance, were among topics discussed. The minister renewed the Indonesian government's concrete commitment to do its utmost to restore traditional religious harmony. In conclusion, the process of normalization currently in progress in East Timor was addressed."

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