Holy See and Bosnia Herzegovina sign accord

(Sept.15,2010) An Accord was signed by the Holy See and Bosnia Herzegovina in the Vatican on Tuesday, concerning religious assistance to Catholic members of the Armed Forces of the country. The agreement had been discussed earlier at Sarajevo on April 8. Present at the signing of the Accord in the Vatican was Cardinal Tarciscio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Vatican’s Minister for Relations with State, and Sven Alkalaj, Foreign Affairs Minister of Bosnia Herzegovina. Present also were other top officials of both the States.
In his address to the gathering Archbishop Mamberti noted that the step taken, confirms the excellent relations that exist between the Holy See and Bosnia Herzegovina. He said that this accord is the fruit of the Holy See’s commitment for peace, the development of peoples, human rights and particularly for religious freedom. Archbishop Mamberti expressed confidence that the accord signed, would also benefit the country’s image internationally, presenting Bosnia Herzegovina as a nation, where despite difficulties, due respect is given to democratic principles, human rights and religious freedom. The prelate hoped that the Accord will inspire sentiments of reciprocal understanding and fruitful collaboration between churches and religious communities for the good of the country, at this delicate stage in its history.