(Vatican Radio) Below find the joint communique of the Bilateral Permanent Working
Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel, following their June 5th
meeting: The Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and
the State of Israel met today, 5 June 2013, at the Vatican, at the Plenary level to
continue negotiations pursuant to the Fundamental Agreement Art. 10 paragraph 2.
The
meeting was headed by Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, Under-Secretary for the Holy
See's Relations with States and by Mr. Zeev Elkin, M.K., Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel.
The Commission welcomed the two new
heads of the delegations, and acknowledged the contribution of Ambassador Bahij Mansour
to the negotiations and wished him success in his new position.
The negotiations
took place in a thoughtful and constructive atmosphere. The Commission took notice
that significant progress was made and the parties committed themselves to accelerate
negotiations on the remaining issues, and look forward to an expedited conclusion
in the near term.
The Parties have agreed on future steps and to hold the next
Plenary meeting by December 2013 in Jerusalem.
Delegation of the Holy See:
Msgr.
Antoine Camilleri, Under-Secretary for 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 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
Delegation of the State of Israel:
Mr.
Zeev Elkin, 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), Co-Chairman of the Working Level of the Bilateral Permanent
Working Commission 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. Rony Tzuberi, Chief
of Staff, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Gershon Kedar, Policy Advisor
to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs