CLARIFICATION BY HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR

VATICAN CITY, JAN 13, 1998 (VIS) - The following declaration was made today by Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls:

"Information regarding the public exhibit of an archeological find located in the Lake of Genesareth, dating to 2000 years ago, requires clarification.

"The ambassador of Israel to the Vatican had proposed a form of co-participation in the exhibit, which is a wooden boat, to be held first in Jerusalem and then in the Vatican.

"The Holy See had declined the offer and thus this eventuality was no longer under consideration.

"This news of recent days surprises me in that the Holy See was not even consulted on the matter."

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