An official meeting took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine in Ramallah yesterday. The meeting is a continuation of bilateral negotiations that have been held in the past years between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Holy See.
The talks were headed by Dr. Riad Al-Malki, minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine and Msgr. Ettore Balestrero, under-secretary for the Holy See’s Relations with States.
In a joint communique released today by the Holy See Press Office, the two parties exchanged views «regarding the draft Agreement.»
«The talks were held in an open and cordial atmosphere, the expression of the existing good relations between the Holy See and the State of Palestine,» the communique stated.
«The Delegations expressed the wish that negotiations be accelerated and brought to a speedy conclusion. It was thus agreed that a joint technical group will meet to follow-up.»
The State of Palestine also expressed its gratitude for the Holy See’s contribution of 100,000 euro towards the restoration of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
