NOTE CONCERNING CLOSURE OF IRISH EMBASSY TO THE HOLY SEE

VATICAN CITY, 4 NOV 2011 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a declaration made yesterday by Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico Lombardi S.J. in response to a note issued by the Irish Foreign Ministry announcing the decision of the government of Ireland to close, for economic reasons, its embassies in the Holy See and Iran, and its office of representation in East Timor.

"The Holy See takes note of the decision by Ireland to close its embassy in Rome to the Holy See. Of course, any State which has diplomatic relations with the Holy See is free to decide, according to its possibilities and its interests, whether to have an ambassador to the Holy See resident in Rome, or resident in another country. What is important are diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the States, and these are not at issue with regard to Ireland".
OP/ VIS 20111104 (160)