POPE RECEIVES RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN

VATICAN CITY, JUN 6, 2000 (VIS) - Yesterday evening, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration concerning the audience between John Paul II and President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation which took place at 6:30 p.m.

"The private meeting was followed by another with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States. Also present was Igor Ivanov, minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

"In the course of the talks consideration was given to the roles played by the Holy See and by Russia in the process of integration between east and west. In President Putin's opinion, the Holy See's mission in this field is particularly important.

"Special consideration was also reserved for problems concerning disarmament and the international situation."

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