Vatican
City, 12 June 2012 (VIS) - Given below are extracts from an interview given to
Vatican Radio by Msgr. Ettore Balestrero, under secretary for Relations with
States, concerning the conclusion of the plenary meeting of the Bilateral
Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel.
Question:
Over recent days there have been persistent rumours in some circles that the
Agreement, which has been in preparation for thirteen years, would finally be
signed. Yet it was not signed. What has happened?
Answer:
Nothing in particular. It is true that in some circles there was talk of
signing the Agreement, but that was not in fact scheduled. As I have said
before, progress has been made, but questions still remain to be resolved.
Q:
There has been concern among Palestinians that, by signing this Agreement, the
Holy See would indirectly recognise Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem and
other territory occupied in the war of 1967.
A:
The Agreement in question concerns the life, activity and tax status of the
Catholic Church in Israel. It does not enter into territorial disputes. There
will be no mention of East Jerusalem or of anywhere in the West Bank.
Q:
But there has been talk of a draft agreement in which certain places in East
Jerusalem and the West Bank are mentioned.
A:
Since the beginning of the negotiations we have worked on a plan for a
Comprehensive Agreement which also included the so-called 'Schedule One'; that
is, a list of individual properties belonging to the Holy See and to certain
institutions of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land which, over the years,
have been subjected to onerous provisions by Israel. And it is true that some
of those properties are in East Jerusalem or in areas occupied in 1967. The aim
was to resolve concrete problems. However, for some time now, it has been
decided that the Agreement to be signed will only deal with certain properties
which are not in East Jerusalem or the West Bank. Therefore it is incorrect to
say that, by this Agreement, the Holy See would be violating the Fourth Geneva
Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war. The
confusion and concern were due to the undue use of a working instrument, which
has long since been superseded and which, in any case, is still being
elaborated.
Q:
Has the position of the Holy See on East Jerusalem changed?
A:
The Holy See's position has not changed. It was affirmed in the 'Basic
Agreement' between the Holy See and the Palestine Liberation Organisation
(PLO), it has been reiterated on various occasions, and will be mentioned again
in the 'Global Agreement' with the PLO, currently being prepared.
Q:
A final question. It has been written that this Agreement which the Holy See is
preparing with Israel will damage agreements that France, Italy and other
countries have with Israel.
A: That is untrue, The Agreement concerns the
Holy See and the State of Israel, and has no effect on agreements Israel has
made with other States. The validity of those agreements depends first and
foremost on the will of the parities involved and not on the existence of an
agreement those parties have with a third party, in this case the Holy See.
This is, moreover, a commonly accepted principle of international law.
