ARCHBISHOP TAURAN MEETS WITH FORMER KING OF AFGHANISTAN

VATICAN CITY, NOV 27, 2001 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls, released the following declaration late yesterday afternoon:

"I can confirm that this afternoon Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States, accompanied by Archbishop Paolo Romeo, apostolic nuncio in Italy, met with former King of Afghanistan Zaher Shah, in his Roman residence.

"The meeting permitted Archbishop Tauran to renew the Holy Father's solicitude and the Holy See's willingness to help in favor of peace and the well-being of the Afghan people.

"They discussed the necessity of a negotiated peace and international solidarity for the rebuilding of the country, convinced that arms, by themselves, cannot bring peace and security.

"The sovereign also expressed words of heartfelt gratitude for the solicitude of the Pope and the Catholic humanitarian organizations."

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