HOLY SEE: SATISFACTION FOR THE ARAB-ISRAELI AGREEMENT

VATICAN CITY, SEP 5, 1999 (VIS) - At midday today Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration:

"Today, September 5, 1999, in his summer residence of Castelgandolfo, the Holy Father John Paul II received in audience Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestinian National Authority.

"On the same occasion, President Arafat also met with Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano.

"In the course of the meeting, President Arafat explained the contents of accords that have been reached concerning application of the Wye Plantation Agreement, signed together with his Israeli counterpart at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

"The Holy See, in expressing its satisfaction and its hopes in the results attained, has not failed to encourage the parties to continue the process they have begun, underlining the importance that peace holds for the two peoples.

"Finally, gratification was expressed for the desire to arrive at the signing of an accord between the Holy See and the PLO on a number of juridical questions concerning the presence and activity of the Catholic Church in territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority."

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