Vatican to sign State of Palestine accord

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/13/vatican-to-sign-state-of-palestine-accord

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The Vatican has said it is preparing to sign its first accord with Palestine, two years after officially recognising it as a state.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Vatican said that the “bilateral commission of the Holy See and the State of Palestine” was putting the final touches to the treaty.

“The agreement will be submitted to the respective authorities for approval ahead of setting a debate in the near future for the signing,” it said.

While it will be the first time the Roman Catholic Church has signed a treaty with the State of Palestine, the Vatican has recognised the state since February 2013.

“The Holy See has identified the State of Palestine as such since the vote” by the UN general assembly to recognise it in November 2012, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told Agence France-Presse.

In the Vatican’s annual directory, the Palestinian representative is referred to as the representative of the State of Palestine.

The Israeli foreign ministry said it was “disappointed” by Wednesday’s development.

“This move does not promote the peace process and distances the Palestinian leadership from returning to direct and bilateral negotiations,” the ministry said in a text message received by the Associated Press. “Israel will study the agreement and will consider its steps accordingly.”

The treaty was finalised days before Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, visits Pope Francis at the Vatican. Abbas is heading to Rome to attend Francis’ canonisation on Sunday of two new saints from the Holy Land.