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From the Vatican Information Service
appeal, dated September 29, of Archbishop Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan,
president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace:
"Pope John Paul II, in his Apostolic Letter 'Tertio Millennio Adveniente'
(n. 51), appealed to Christians to propose the Great Jubilee of the Year
2000 'as an appropriate moment to give thought, among other things, to
reducing substantially, if not canceling outright, the international debt
which seriously threatens the future of many nations'. The same appeal has
been taken up by other Christian leaders as well as by a very wide range of
individuals and organizations.
"On the occasion of the annual meetings of the Governors of the World
Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which begin in Washington next
week, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace renews its appeal to all
who hold responsibility in the international financial and development
fields for decisive progress on the debt issue. If the hopes of some many
people are to be realized by the year 2000, then the crucial decisions must
be taken now.
"The International Financial Institutions have drawn up an initiative for
the highly indebted poorest countries, the first of its kind to address the
debt problems of these countries in a comprehensive way. This initiative
requires wider support, especially from the wealthier nations. It must be
applied fully, more rapidly and in the most flexible manner possible.
"Today, the international economic order faces many challenges. The needs
of the poorest countries should be not considered second class. Decisive
intervention to resolve their debt problems and to attain lasting social
and economic development remains vital and cannot be postponed.
CON-IP/INTERNATIONAL DEBT/VAN THUAN VIS 981001 (300)
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