IRAQ: LIMIT THE SUFFERING OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION

VATICAN CITY, APR 4, 2003 (VIS) - On Friday April 4, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, Holy See Press Office director, made the following declaration:

"Today, Friday April 4, in the late afternoon, the Holy Father received Dominique de Villepin, the French foreign minister, who was then received by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, together with Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States.

"During their talks, they spoke about the war in Iraq and the need to limit the suffering of the civilian population, with the hope that the international community help the Iraqis themselves to be the architects of reconstruction.

"Furthermore, the problem of Israel and Palestine was discussed, as well as a rapid solution which allows for the coexistence of two sovereign states as an indispensable condition for peace in the Middle East.

"Finally, they spoke about the work of the European Convention and the future constitutional Treaty of Europe in order to emphasize the importance that the role of the Church and the community of believers be recognized."

OP;IRAQ; DE VILLEPIN;...;SODANO; NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;20030407;Word: 180;