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    VATICAN (CWNews.com) - For the Holy See, the economic sanctions imposed by the United Nations to punish regimes which do not follow its directives "are a provocation whose consequences are inhuman and immoral," said Archbishop Renato Martino, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, within the framework of the 54th session of the UN's General Assembly.

    Archbishop Martino said that if "precise measures" against countries are "inevitable and justifiable" when their leaders "represent a threat against international peace and security," "the economic sanctions against an entire population in general, and more vulnerable groups in particular, require a special attention and a different consideration."

    "The weak and the innocent cannot pay for faults for which they are not responsible," he said and imposing sanctions by the United Nations "should not cause famine and the death of anyone in the world," nor harm the health or education of the children." He added, "A provocation having such consequences is inhuman and immoral."

    Although the archbishop did not specifically cite Iraq during his speech, the allusion to the embargo imposed on the regime of Saddam Hussein was not missed by many, Iraq being at the center of the interests of the Holy See recently.

    On Wednesday, Vatican sources said that the major difficulties which remain for the planned trip by Pope John Paul II to Iraq in December, are mainly due to the Iraqi government itself, which has still not offered an official invitation to the Pope, than from the opposition of the United States or Britain to the trip.

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