LONDON - 19 February 2003 - 193 words

Pope meets Kofi Annan

Pope John Paul II held a meeting with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan yesterday.

After the audience, the director of the Holy See press office, Joaquín Navarro-Valls, issued the following statement:

"Today, February 18, the Holy Father received in audience Mr Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations. Mr Annan also met with Vatican State Secretary Cardinal Angelo Sodano who was accompanied by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray.

"In a cordial and thorough half-hour meeting, the Pope and Mr Annan were able to examine the different aspects of the current critical Iraq issue.

Underlining the essential present role of the United Nations, hopes were expressed for the finding of just and efficient solutions to the current challenges in respect to international legality of which the United Nations is guarantor. Solutions that would also avoid ulterior serious sufferance of those populations, already so tried by long years of embargo. Also other situations of conflict in the world were addressed, in particular the dramatic situation in the Holy Land. In the talks, Mr Kofi Annan was thanked for his constant and personal efforts for peace in different zones of the world".

Source: VIS

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