Condemnation of terrorism, disapproval of conditions
of injustice and humiliation as well as reprisals, retaliation
On Thursday, 11 April, in Vienna, Mons. Leo Boccardi, Permanent
Observer of the Holy See to the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) repeated the Holy See's basic five point
position on the present conflict in the Holy Land. Mons. Boccardi's
address was given during the 387th session of the Permanent Council on
the fourth point of the Order of the Day and met with a great consensus
of the participating States. The State of Israel is one of the.
"Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation" in OSCE.
Mr Chairman,
My Delegation wishes to stress, in this important forum, the Holy
See's recently reconfirmed position, regarding the continuing conflict
in the Holy Land.
Five key points
This position is articulated in the five following points:
1. Unequivocal condemnation of terrorism, from whatever side it may
come.
2. Disapproval of the conditions of injustice and humiliation imposed
on the Palestinian people, as well as reprisals and retaliation, which
only make the sense of frustration and hatred grow.
3. Respect for the United Nations Resolutions by all sides.
4. Proportionality in the use of legitimate means of defense.
5. The duty for the parties in conflict to protect the Holy places,
which are of the greatest importance to the three monotheistic religions
and a patrimony of all of humanity.
The Holy See is in close contact, among others, with the Latin
Patriarch of Jerusalem and the religious communities of Bethlehem, and
has conveyed to them the Holy Father's complete solidarity in this
sorrowful moment.
Acts of solidarity will bring the return to negotiation
After recalling that nothing can be resolved by conflict and that it
only brings greater suffering and death, Pope John Paul II stressed that
no political or religious leader can remain silent and inactive.
Denunciation must be followed by practical acts of solidarity that will
help everyone to rediscover mutual respect and return to frank
negotiation.
In this spirit and convinced that, when the merciless logic of arms
prevails, only God can bring hearts to peaceful thoughts, Pope John Paul
II asked the Catholic Church to pray more intensely on Sunday, April 7
last, for the people suffering from this terrible violence.
Commitment to peace initiatives
Mr Chairman,
The protection and the promotion of peace has always been high on the
Agenda of our Organisation.
Many Religions proclaim that peace is a gift from God. This was also
the experience of the recent meeting of Assisi. At that time, my
Delegation informed the Permanent Council of the meaning of that event
and the purpose of the "Commitment for peace" signed by the
Religious leaders present at Assisi and subsequently sent to the Head of
States and Governments.
The Holy See hopes that the aforementioned initiatives will
effectively encourage those who have the responsibility and the
possibility to take the necessary action, however difficult it might be,
to demand scrupulous respect for human rights and humanitarian law and
to urge the parties in conflict towards agreements which are fair and
honorable for everyone.
Thank you, Mr Chairman.
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