Talks between the Holy See and the PLO resume

Resumption of talks between the Holy See and the PLO


Talks between the Holy See and the PLO resumed this morning at the Headquarters of the Palestinian president, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, in Ramallah, following the Basic Agreement signed in 2000. The talks aimed at a comprehensive international agreement regulating and promoting the presence and activities of the Catholic Church in the Palestinian Territories, so strengthening the special relations between the Holy See and the PLO.

The Talks were co-chaired by Msgr. Ettore Balestrero, Under-Secretary for the Holy See's relations with States, and Mr. Ziad Al-Bandak, the President's advisor for Christian relations. The Talks were held in a cordial atmosphere.

Both sides agreed on establishing a working group to elaborate the aforementioned comprehensive agreement.

The Holy See Delegation was composed of H.E. Archbishop Antonio
Franco Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, H.E. Bishop Salim Sayegh, Vicar General of the Latin Patriarchate in Amman, Msgr. Maurizio Malvestiti, Under-Secretary of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, Msgr. Alberto Ortega, Official of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, Msgr. Waldemar Sommertag, Counselor of the Apostolic Delegation in Jerusalem, Dr. Ghassan Faramand, Legal Advisor, and Fr. Emil Salayta, President of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal Court in Jerusalem.

The Palestinian Delegation was composed of Dr. Nabil Shath, member of the central committee, President Advisor Nimer Hamad, Amb.
Shawqi Armali, Dr. Ramzi Khouri, Head of the Palestinian National Fund, Dr. Bernard Sabella, member of the PLC, and Mr. lssa Kassissieh, Deputy Head of the Negotiations Affairs Department.

Ramallah, December 7, 2010.