The Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the State of Israel and the Holy See met today, 26 January 2012, at the Plenary level, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to carry on negotiations pursuant to the Fundamental Agreement Article 10 paragraph 2, dealing with economic and fiscal matters.
The meeting was headed by Mr. Danny AYALON, MK, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and by Monsignor Ettore BALESTRERO, Under-Secretary for Relations with States.
The negotiations took place in an open, friendly and constructive atmosphere. Substantive progress was made on issues of significance.
Following a high level meeting yesterday at the Israeli foreign Ministry, Apostolic Nuncio to Israel, Archbishop Antonio Franco told Vatican Radio that "there has been progress which makes us hope that we indeed can work toward the conclusion of the agreement. We cannot say when this conclusion will come, but for sure there is a positive atmosphere of working to try to give answer to our concerns and there is understanding, reciprocal understanding, of the different concerns and so a common effort to find ways of solution that may be acceptable to both parties.”
The Parties have agreed on the next steps towards the conclusion of the Agreement and to hold the next Plenary meeting in 11 June 2012 at the Vatican.