AGREEMENT BETWEEN HOLY SEE AND ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY

VATICAN CITY, 21 OCT, 2000 (VIS) - On Thursday October 19, at the headquarters of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the "Cooperation Agreement between the Holy See and the Organization of African Unity" was signed by Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi C.M., for the Holy See and by Salim Ahmed Salim, secretary general of the OAU.

The agreement, which consists of eight articles, opens the way to close collaboration between the Holy See and the OAU on questions of common interest such as education, healthcare, human rights and social matters. It also stipulates that the Holy See may attend, as observer, OAU-organized meetings that deal with matters of common interest. Regarding these matters, the agreement further stipulates that meetings be organized and information and documents exchanged; that there be technical cooperation and material assistance, and that activities be developed with a view to achieving common objectives.

Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, dean of the College of Cardinals, also took part in the event and made a speech. The cardinal from Benin spoke about the Holy See's presence in international relations in general and in international organizations in particular. He also mentioned the Holy See's presence in Africa through the Catholic Church and spoke about the OAU and the Holy See.

Among other things, Cardinal Gantin said that "the Holy See sincerely hopes that all Africans and African governments may respect the fundamental right of the Catholic Church to work and worship freely, in other words, that the members and institutions of the Church may enjoy complete liberty to remain at the service of their faithful and of all Africans, as well as to proclaim freely, through words and deeds, the message of Christ's love."

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