GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT VISITS HOLY SEE AND ITALY

31 March 1999

Press Release
GA/SM/87

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT VISITS HOLY SEE AND ITALY

19990331 The President of the fifty-third session of the General Assembly, Didier Opertti (Uruguay), paid an official visit to the Holy See and Italy from 29 to 31 March 1999. On Monday, 29 March, the President had a private audience with Pope John Paul II, followed by a meeting with Cardinal Sodano, Secretary of State of the Holy See. The current international situation was discussed at length with a special emphasis on the political and humanitarian aspects of the crisis in Kosovo. Both sides agreed that it was necessary to explore new diplomatic initiatives in order to bring peace to the region.

On Monday afternoon, the President delivered a lecture at the Rome University "La Sapienza", discussing the theme "Institutional aspects and dispute settlement in MERCOSUR". This lecture was part of the observance of the 696th anniversary of this institution, the year dedicated to the United Nations.

On Tuesday, 30 March, the President held talks with the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Luciano Violante, followed by a meeting with the Chairman and the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The political and humanitarian aspects of the situation in the Balkans and the role of the United Nations in this context dominated the discussions, together with the issues relating to the reform of the Organization on the basis of a more equitable and more representative composition of the Security Council.

The President of the General Assembly was also received by the President of the Italian Republic, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, and by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lamberto Dini. On this occasion, the above-mentioned issues were thoroughly discussed, and in particular the role that the United Nations should play in connection with the conflict in Kosovo.

On Wednesday, 31 March, the President spoke at the conference that took place at the Italian Diplomatic Institute under the theme "United Nations: the season of reforms".

The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations, Francesco Paolo Fulci, was present at some of the events that took place during the President's visit to Italy.

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