Posted on 04/07/2005 9:55:23 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
The Holy See's ambassador to Taipei Ambrose Medtha confirmed on Wednesday that (TAIWAN) President Chen would attend the funeral, and added that he believes the president would have "no difficulty" at the Italian immigration on his way to Vatican City.
According to MOFA spokesman Michael Lu, President Chen will depart on a special China Airlines flight at 15:40 on Thursday afternoon, and land in Rome at 5 a.m. on Friday. The president will return to Taipei on the afternoon of that same day, Lu said.
The five-member Taiwanese delegation will include Minister Chen, Taipei Grand Mosque Imam Ma Shiao-chi, Father Jan van Aert, and Father Hsing Chao-ming.
The funeral will bring together nearly 200 world leaders, some of whom rarely if ever meet, in a fitting tribute to a Pope who fought for world peace and unity.
The chairs already laid out in St. Peter's Square will seat President Bush near President Mohammad Khatami of Iran, leader of one of the countries Bush included in his "axis of evil." At least 2 million people are expected for the funeral and Rome city officials were due to meet later to decide whether to close shops and offices and order a total traffic ban to avoid mayhem.
That's the beauty of anonymous forums.
Please do not change the title of a published article. Thank you.
" speaking of evil, how did bill clingon get himself centered in the front page nyt photo today?
meanwhile, the president of the united states is crowded off to the left side."
IIRC, both NBC and ABC did something similar last night. They had the video running on the right side of the screen and their Vatican correspondent in a circle , reporting live from the left side of the screen.
Which conveniently obscured President Bush's face.
I noticed however, that they didn't show Clinton laughing and talking to those around him, when he entered St Peter's Basilica .
Nor did they mention Clinton's tacky comments.
Mmmm...fried pigskins...
Bush: "That Chirac is such a Clymer."
Khatami: "Oh yeah, big time!"
can you imagine suffering another 8 years of the clintons?
" can you imagine suffering another 8 years of the clintons?"
We will always have to suffer the Clintons-whether in office or out.
Yesterday's media attention to Clinton over President Bush proves that axiom.
They're like cockroaches-they survive anything and outlast everything.
Where is Castro sitting?
Everyone except Khatami. A bullet in his head with his body dumped into the nearest dumpster would be fit for a dictator like him.
Anyone know if Thatcher will be there?
Bump
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