MEETING OF ARCHBISHOP TAURAN AND PRESIDENT OF SINN FEIN

VATICAN CITY, JUN 21, 2002 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, released the following declaration at midday:

"Today, June 21, during an audience with Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Jerry Adams, president of the Irish nationalist republican party, wanted to inform the Holy See of the current state of the peace process in Northern Ireland.

"Adams underlined the progress gained and insisted on the necessity of accelerating the rhythm of the different stages of the process with the purpose of achieving a peace based on justice as soon as possible.
"Later, referring to the violence that still marks the life of that population, he cited the important contribution offered by the Catholic Church and by Christian churches in general to create and promote a pedagogy of peace.

"In conclusion, it was agreed that by taking into due consideration, the regional identities in the process of European integration can certainly contribute to a lasting peace in Northern Ireland."

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