AUDIENCE FOR LEBANON'S PRIME MINISTER

VATICAN CITY, APR 23, 2001 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration early this afternoon:

"This morning the Holy Father received in audience Rafiq Hariri, president of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Lebanon who, after this visit, met with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States.

"The situation in Lebanon and the dramatic junction in the Middle East were the principal themes of the meetings. In this regard the Holy See felt it was opportune to underline once again the importance of reconciliation as an essential element of the human and social rebuilding of Lebanon. Concerning the Middle East, the Holy See repeated the need to observe international law and the United Nations resolutions, in both resuming negotiations and in reaching the much hoped-for peace."

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