VATICAN CITY, MAY 21, 2007 (Zenit.org).- After five years without an official meeting, the Bilateral Permanent Working Commission formed by representatives of the Holy See and Israel say they made important progress.
Today's meeting, originally scheduled for March but postponed after the Israeli delegates cancelled at the last minute, aimed to advance the negotiations on the 1993 Fundamental Agreement, signed by the Holy See and Israel.
The eight-member delegation of the Holy See was led by Monsignor Pietro Parolin, undersecretary for relations with states of the Vatican Secretariat of State.
Aaron Abramovich, director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led Israel's nine-member delegation.
According to a Vatican statement: "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.'"
Code: ZE07052119
Date: 2007-05-21