POPE RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

VATICAN CITY, FEB 27, 2001 (VIS) - The following declaration was made yesterday afternoon by Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls:

"The Holy Father, John Paul II, received in audience this morning Mikhail Mikhailovich Kasianov, president of the Council of the Russian Federation. Following this, Mr. Kasianov also met with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano. In the course of the meetings, held in a very cordial atmosphere, opinions were exchanged on the current situation in Russia and Europe, as well as on the bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the Holy See."

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