DECLARATION ON VISIT BY U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE

VATICAN CITY, JUN 2, 2003 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following statement this afternoon on the visit of the U.S. secretary of state:

"This morning, June 2, 2003, the Holy Father received Colin Powell, secretary of state of the United States of America, who afterwards paid a visit to Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state, who was accompanied by Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States.

"Among the themes discussed in the conversations was the material and political rebuilding of Iraq, which must be able to count on the cooperation of the international community and must pay particular attention to fundamental rights such as the right to religious freedom.

"They also spoke of the new prospects for peace that the creation of the well-known 'road map' has opened in the Holy Land and in the entire region. Thanks to this, it is hoped that the two States, Israeli and Palestinian, can finally enjoy the same security and the same sovereignty.

"And lastly, there was an exchange of opinions on the situation in Africa, and in particular on the fight against epidemic diseases, which has always seen the participation in these places of the various aid and charity institutions of the Catholic Church."

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