POPE WELCOMES IRAQ'S APPARENT OPENNESS TO NEW ARMS

UNCLAS VATICAN 004539

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (MENNUTI),NEA/NGA, NEA/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL IZ VT
SUBJECT: POPE WELCOMES IRAQ'S APPARENT OPENNESS TO NEW ARMS
INSPECTIONS



1. POPE JOHN PAUL II ENDED HIS WEEKLY GENERAL AUDIENCE
SEPTEMBER 18 BY WELCOMING IRAQ'S APPARENT ACCEPTANCE OF UN
ARMS INSPECTIONS AS POTENTIALLY A STEP BACK FROM WAR. THE
VATICAN'S PRESS OFFICE SLUGGED THE PAPAL STATEMENT IN ITS
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN AS "POPE MAKES APPEAL FOR PEACE."
TEXT OF THE POPE'S STATEMENT FOLLOWS:

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PAGE 02 VATICA 04539 190621Z

2. BEGIN TEXT. "IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, AFTER THE WINDS OF
WAR THREATENED TO UPSET THE ENTIRE REGION OF THE MIDDLE
EAST, I HAVE RECEIVED THE GOOD NEWS OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
IRAQ'S COLLABORATION ONCE AGAIN WITH THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY. I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO PRAY THAT THE LORD
ENLIGHTENS THE LEADERS OF NATIONS, OPENS US AND SUSTAINS
ATTITUDES OF GOOD WILL AND LEADS HUMANITY, AFFLICTED BY SO
MANY EVILS, TOWARD COEXISTENCE FREE FROM WAR AND VIOLENCE."
END TEXT.

NICHOLSON

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2002VATICA04539 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED