STATEMENT ON HOLY FATHER'S AUDIENCE WITH KOFI ANNAN

VATICAN CITY, FEB 19, 2003 (VIS) - The following statement was released last evening by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls after the visit to the Holy Father by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan:

"Today, February 18, the Holy Father received in audience Kofi Annan, secretary general of the United Nations. Mr. Annan also had the opportunity to meet with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, who was accompanied by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray.

"In a cordial and in-depth conversation which lasted a half hour, the Pope and Mr. Annan were able to examine different aspects of the current critical situation regarding Iraq. Emphasizing the essential role of the United Nations, they expressed the hope that just and effective solutions may be found to the challenges of the moment which respect international law that the Organization of the United Nations guarantees. Solutions must be found which avert further grave suffering for that population, already tried by long years of embargo.

"Other situations of conflict in the world were also reviewed, particularly the ever dramatic situation in the Holy Land.

"During the conversation, Kofi Annan was thanked for his constant personal commitment to peace in different regions of the world."

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