Holy See-Palestine negotiations nearing conclusion

February 01, 2013 - A bilateral meeting was held between delegations from the Holy See and the Palestine Liberation Organization in Ramallah on Wednesday, over which both parties expressed satisfaction. At the end of the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine, the two sides released a joint communique saying they exchanged views regarding the draft Agreement under discussion, especially the Preamble and Chapter I. Hoping that the negotiations will be accelerated and brought to a sppedy conclusion the two sides agreed upon a joint technical group to follow-up the negotiations. At the meeting the Palestinian Authority expressed gratitude to the Holy See for its contribution of €100,000 towards the restoration of the roof of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the site where Christians believe Jesus was born. Msgr. Ettore Balestrero, Vatican Under-Secretary for Relations with States headed the Holy See delegation, whereas Minister of Foreign Affairs Riad Al-Malki led the Palestinain side.