The Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel has held a Plenary meeting at the Vatican today, Monday 21 May 2007, for the purpose of advancing the negotiations pursuant to Article 10 § 2 of the Fundamental Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel (30 December 1993).

The Delegation of the Holy See was led by Monsignor Pietro Parolin, Under-Secretary for Relations with States at the Secretariat of State, and was composed also of the following Members:

- H.E. Archbishop Antonio Maria Vegliò, Secretary of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches;
- H.E. Archbishop Antonio Franco, Apostolic Nuncio in Israel, Chairman of the Commission at the "Working Level";
- H.E. Bishop Giacinto Boulos Marcuzzo;
- Msgr. Maher Aboud, Archimandrite;
- Father David-Maria A. Jaeger, OFM, Legal Adviser;
- Mr. Henry Amoroso, Second Legal Adviser;
- Father Giovanni Caputa, SDB, Secretary.

The Delegation of the State of Israel was led by Mr. Aaron Abramovich, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was composed also of the following Members:

- Mr. Shmuel Ben-Shmuel, Head of World Jewish Affairs and Interreligious Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- Mr. Oded Ben-Hur, Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Holy See;
- Mr. Ehud Keinan, Legal Adviser of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- Mr. Oded Brook, Official of the Ministry of Finance;
- Mr. Moshe Golan, Head of Civil Department in the State Attorney Office;
- Mr. Eliav Benjamin, Advisor to the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- Mr. Bahij Mansour, Official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- Dr. Ofer Mazar, Consul of Israel.

The talks took place in an atmosphere of great cordiality, mutual understanding and good will, and produced important progress and hope for yet further advances in the coming months.

The next meeting of the Plenary will take place in the first half of December this year, in Israel, and in the meantime the Commission will continue upon its task at the "working level".

Vatican City, 21 May 2007 / 4 Sivan 5767.

[00727-02.01] [Original text: English]

[B0276-XX.01]