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Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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              The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                        Vatican Information Service.
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                               VIS-Press releases

HOLY SEE SPEAKS ON MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT, REFUGEE SITUATION

VATICAN CITY, NOV 1, 2004 (VIS) - Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Holy See
permanent observer to the United Nations, spoke today before the Special
Political and Decolonization Committee on Item 75, the U.N. Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

"We come to this forum once again," he said, "to review the delivery of human
services (to refugees) amid an unending cycle of violence and terrorism,
military action and reaction, in effect a series of retaliations which begets
more violence. ... A realistic analysis of the situation finds that there is a
lot of peacemaking rhetoric but very little political will shown in the
resolution of differences." He urged the "international community to challenge
the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships to negotiate in good faith," in order
to create "opportunities for reconciliation, forgiveness, compromise or
collaboration." In particular, he underscored the difficulties of "the refugee
population so adversely affected by this 'undeclared war'."

Archbishop Migliore spoke of the multifaceted work of the Pontifical Mission
for Palestine, and then addressed the question of the Holy City of Jerusalem,
saying this is part of any solution to the Middle East situation. He renewed
the Holy See's call for "'internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the
freedom of religion and of conscience of its inhabitants, as well as permanent,
free and unhindered access to the Holy Places by the faithful of all religions
and nationalities'."

"It is painful," said the nuncio in concluding remarks, "to see that a land
once entrusted with a message of love, life, brotherhood and peace, called by
many a Holy Land, in these times sends a very different message to the world,
one of division, destruction and death. The family of nations must challenge
all the actors concerned to renew their efforts to bring peace to the region."
DELSS/REFUGEES:MIDDLE EAST/UN:MIGLIOREVIS 041103 (310)

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