ARCHBISHOP CORDES VISITS INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN INSTITUTIONS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 10, 2002 (VIS) - Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," paid a two-day visit to the international humanitarian institutions in Geneva, according to a press release published today.
Archbishop Cordes' visit was coordinated by the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva, headed by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

The president of "Cor Unum" met with Mr. Ruud Lubbers, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, and his collaborators. They talked about the situation of the refugees and displaced persons cared for by UNHCR, which currently number around 20 million.

In another meeting, Archbishop Cordes spoke about the humanitarian activities in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The press release focused on the future of the latter country, which is trying to rebuild itself, saying "its future is however still risky. The basic infrastructures concerning education and health are poor. People, however, crave for education, parents as well as children. This is a very positive sign."

Archbishop Cordes also met with Christopher E. Sorek, head of the Department of Communication of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and with the director and staff of the International Catholic Migration Commission.

...;HUMANITARIAN INSTITUTIONS;...;GENEVA; CORDES;VIS;20021010;Word: 200;