Vatican: Holy See-Israeli Commission meets in Jerusalem

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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 Ayalkon MK, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and by Mgr 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:

Mgr Ettore Balestrero, Under-Secretary of the Holy See for the Relations with States
Archbishop Antonio Franco, Apostolic Nuncio, Co-Chairman of the Working Level of the Bilateral Permanent Working Commission
Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, Apostolic Nuncio in Israel
Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicar for Israel
Mgr Maurizio Malvestiti, Under-Secretary of the Congregation for OrientalChurches
Mgr Alberto Ortega Martin, Official of the Secretariat of State
Mgr Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag, Counsellor of the Apostolic Nunciature
Mr Henry Amoroso, Principal Legal Adviser
Mr Samir Abu-Nassar, CPA, 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 SCJ, Secretary General of the AOCTS.
Fr Ibrahim Faltas OFM, Custody of the Holy Land
S Naomi Zimmermann FSE, 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

Source: VIS