Agreement of Understanding Between Holy See and Arab League
(23 Apr 09 - RV) On Thursday 23 April, in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, the
signing took place of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Secretariat of State
and the League of Arab States.
It was signed for the Secretariat of State by
the Most Reverend Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States, and for
the League of Arab States by His Excellency Mr Amre Moussa, Secretary-General.
The
following were present at the solemn act:
from the Holy See: His Eminence
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State; Monsignor Fortunatus Nwachukwu; Monsignor
Alberto Ortega; Monsignor Christophe El-Kassis; Monsignor Nicolas Thevenin; Monsignor
Lech Piechota.
from the League of Arab States: His Excellency Mr Walid Al
Gargani, Head of the Arab League’s Mission to the Holy See; Mr El Fateh El Naciry,
head of the Department for Europe and Euro-Arab Affairs; Ms Dina Douay, Desk Officer
for Europe in the Secretary-General’s Cabinet. Also present were the Ambassadors
accredited to the Holy See from some member countries of the League of Arab States.
The
above-mentioned Agreement further consolidates the bonds of co-operation that exist
between the Holy See and the League of Arab States, especially on the political and
cultural levels, in favour of peace, security, and regional and international stability.
Moreover, it proposes instruments of consultation between the two Parties, giving
attention also to initiatives of inter-religious dialogue.
The Agreement came
into force with the signature of the two Parties.