POPE RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA, PRIME MINISTER OF SINGAPORE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 25, 1999 (VIS) - The following declaration was made early this afternoon by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls on the Pope's audiences this morning with the president of Armenia and the prime minister of Singapore:

"The president of the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Robert Kotcharian, was received in audience this morning by the Holy Father John Paul II. The Armenian head of state then met with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state.

"During the discussions, the historical relations established 1700 years ago between the Holy See and Christian Armenia were mentioned, as well as the current religious situation in that country. Special attention was then given to relations between Armenia and other countries of the Caucasus and with European organizations.

"President Kotcharian invited the Holy Father to visit Armenia. John Paul II thanked the Armenian president, saying that he hoped that providence would allow him to go on this apostolic trip soon."

"Also this morning, the Pope received in audience the prime minister of Singapore, Mr. Goh Chok Tong, who subsequently met with the Cardinal Secretary of State. The meeting allowed for a useful exchange of information on the current situation in that young republic, and in the Far East in general."

OP;...;...;NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;19990325;Word: 210

JOHN PAUL II "DEEPLY CONCERNED" ABOUT SITUATION IN YUGOSLAVIA

VATICAN CITY, MAR 25, 1999 (VIS) - The following is a declaration made today by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls: "The Holy Father is deeply concerned about the suffering of peoples struck by the painful situation in which they presently find themselves. It is a solidarity which is extended to all Albanians and Serbs, Muslims and Christians, Orthodox and Catholics, because all are children of the same Father in heaven.

"At the same time, the Holy See remains in contact with the parties involved, inviting them to accept the path of dialogue once again, and to find honorable solutions for all. Such an invitation was made by the Holy See to the government in Belgrade, so that it may seek the cooperation of other European countries. Belonging to a common European culture will certainly provide a basis of dialogue for all parties."

OP;POPE; YUGOSLAVIA;...;NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;19990325;Word: 160;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 25, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:

- Archbishop Luigi Bressan, apostolic nuncio in Thailand, Singapore and Cambodia, and apostolic delegate in Laos, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalem and Myanmar, as metropolitan archbishop of Trent (area 6,212, population 464,398, Catholics 461,000, priests 855, religious 1,249), Italy.

- Archbishop Luigi Ventura, apostolic nuncio in the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Niger, as apostolic nuncio in Chile.

- Bishop Umberto Tramma of Nola, Italy, as deputy secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts.

- Fr. Giuseppe Sciacca as prelate auditor of the Roman Rota.

NER; NN; NA;...;...;... ;VIS;19990325;Word: 90;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, MAR 25, 1999 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Robert Kocharian, president of the Republic of Armenia, and his entourage.
- His Holiness Karekin I, supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenians, and his entourage.
- Goh Chok Tong, prime minister of the Republic of Singapore, and his entourage.

AL;...;...;...;VIS;19990325;Word: 50;

FINAL PRE-SYNOD COUNCIL HELD FOR SPECIAL ASSEMBLY FOR EUROPE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 25, 1999 (VIS) - The fifth and final pre-synodal council for the Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops was held in the Vatican March 16-18 under the presidency of Cardinal Jan P. Schotte, C.I.C.M., and in the presence of four cardinals, four archbishops, two bishops and staff members of the secretariat general of the Synod of Bishops.

According to the communique published today on the meeting, the council "introduced the presentation of the final draft of the ''Instrumentum laboris'" and dedicated time to a survey of possible points to suggest for the "Relatio ante disceptationem."

SE;COUNCIL; SYNOD EUROPE;...;SCHOTTE;VIS;19990325;Word: 120;