STATEMENT ON VISIT BY ENGLISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR

VATICAN CITY, FEB 22, 2003 (VIS) - The following statement was released this afternoon by Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, on the audience that Pope John Paul granted to British Prime Minister Tony Blair:

"This morning, Saturday February 22, 2003, the Holy Father received in a private audience Tony Blair, prime minister of Great Britain. In the course of the cordial conversation which lasted half an hour, they spoke about the complex international situation with particular regard to the Middle East. The Holy Father expressed the hope that, in solving the grave situation in Iraq, every effort be made to avoid new divisions in the world.

"The Holy Father then received Mr. Blair's family.

"The prime minister of Great Britain also met with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, who received him together with Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States.

"During this morning's conversations in the Vatican, it was reaffirmed that all interested parties in the Iraqi crisis need to collaborate with the Organization of the United Nations and know how to use the resources offered by international law in order to avert the tragedy of war that many sides consider avoidable. Special consideration was given to the humanitarian situation of the Iraq people, already so severely tried by the long years of embargo.

"In the course of the meetings, there was an exchange of opinions on the future Constitutional Treaty of Europe. The Holy See expressed its wish for the explicit recognition of churches and communities of believers, as well as a commitment by the European Union to maintain a structured dialogue with them."

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