POPE FOLLOWS WITH INTEREST THE SITUATION IN EAST TIMOR

VATICAN CITY, SEP 7, 1999 (VIS) - Yesterday evening Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration:

"This morning Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano received a telephone call from the Portuguese prime minister, Antonio Guterres, regarding the present situation in East Timor. Cardinal Sodano reiterated the interest with which the Holy Father is following the whole situation.

"The Secretary of State assured the prime minister that the Holy See is in contact with the governments concerned in order to find a solution to the situation as soon as possible."

OP;EAST TIMOR;...;SODANO; NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;19990907;Word: 110;