Vatican: Holy See-Israeli Commission meets in Jerusalem
(Vatican Radio) The Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and
the State of Israel has held another round of talks as part of negotiations for the
Fundamental Agreement between both parties. The Commission met in Jerusalem on Tuesday
and issued the following statement:
Joint Communiqué
The Bilateral
Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel met today,
29 January 2013, in Jerusalem, at the Plenary level, to continue negotiations pursuant
to the Fundamental Agreement Art 10 paragraph 2.
The meeting was headed by
Mr. Daniel AYALON, M.K, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and by Msgr. Ettore BALESTRERO,
Under-Secretary of the Holy See for the Relations with States. The Holy See's delegation
thanked Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon for his contribution to the negotiations and
wished him success in his new endeavors.
The negotiations took place in a thoughtful
and constructive atmosphere. The Commission took notice that significant progress
was made and looks forward to a speedy conclusion of the Agreement.
The Parties
have agreed on future steps and to hold the next Plenary meeting in June 2013 at Vatican
City. Delegation of the Holy See:
Msgr. Ettore BALESTRERO, Under-Secretary
of the Holy See for the Relations with States
H.E. Arch. Antonio FRANCO, Apostolic
Nuncio, Co-Chairman of the Working Level of the Bilateral Permanent Working Commission
H.E.
Arch. Giuseppe LAZZAROTTO, Apostolic Nuncio in Israel
H.E. Bishop Giacinto-Boulos
MARCUZZO, Patriarchal Vicar for Israel
Msgr. Maurizio MALVESTITI, Under-Secretary
of the Congregation for Oriental Churches
Msgr. Alberto ORTEGA MARTÍN, Official
of the Secretariat of State
Msgr. Waldemar Stanislaw SOMMERTAG, Counsellor
of the Apostolic Nunciature
Mr. Henry AMOROSO, Principal Legal Adviser
Mr.
Samir ABU-NASSAR., C.P.A., Financial Adviser
Archimandrite Maher ABBOUD, Vicar
General Greek-Melkite Archeparchy of Akko
Fr. Elias DAW, President of the Tribunal
Greek-Melkite Church in Israel
Fr. Pietro FELET S.C.J., Secretary General
of the A.O.C.T.S.
Fr. Ibrahim FALTAS O.F.M., Custody of the Holy Land
S.
Naomi ZIMMERMANN F.S.E., Secretary Delegation of the State of Israel: Mr. Daniel AYALON, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Zion EVRONY,
Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Holy See
Mr. Ehud KEINAN, Deputy Director
General, Legal Division (MFA), CoChairman of the Working Level of the Bilateral Permanent
Working Commission
Mr. Shmuel BEN SHMUEL, Head of the World Jewish and Inter-Religious
Affairs Bureau (MFA)
Mr. Bahij MANSOUR, Director of the Inter-Religious Affairs
Department (MFA)
Mr. Moshe GOLAN, Senior Deputy State's Attorney responsible
for Civil Law Matter, Ministry of Justice
Mr. Itai APTER, Department for International
Agreements, Ministry of Justice
Ms. Karin DOSERETZ, General International Law
Department, Legal Division (MFA)
Mr. Gershon KEDAR, Policy Advisor to the Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ms. Michal PASOVSKY, Department for International
Agreements, Ministry of Justice