168 Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale

CONVENTIO

Inter Apostolicam Sedem et Statum Palaestinae

FRANCISCUS PP.

Die XXVI mensis Iunii anno MMXV a Paulo Richardo Gallagher, Archi-

episcopo Titulo Hodelmensi, Secretario Sectionis de rationibus cum civita-

tibus, et a Riad Al-Malki, Ministro ab Exteris Negotiis Status Palæstinæ,

haec quae sequitur conventio inita est:

Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine

Preamble

The Holy See and the State of Palestine,

Conscious of the profound historical and cultural relations between the

Holy See and the Palestinian people in the Holy Land;

Reaffirming the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determi-

nation, freedom, security and dignity in an independent State of their own;

Expressing full support for a just, comprehensive and peaceful settlement

of the question of Palestine, in all its aspects, in accordance with inter-

national law and all relevant United Nations resolutions, as well as for an

independent, sovereign, democratic and viable State of Palestine on the

basis of the pre-1967 borders, on the West Bank, including East Jerusa-

lem, and the Gaza Strip, living side by side in peace and security with

all its neighbours;

Reaffirming their support, in accordance with international law and con-

sensus, for the two-state solution, under which all states in the region live

in peace within secure and internationally recognized borders;

Recalling the Basic Agreement between the Holy See and the PLO that was

signed and entered into force in 15 February 2000 and which this Agree-

ment intends now to further expand;