HOLY SEE DONATES $20,000 TO UN FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES

VATICAN CITY, DEC 6, 1996 (VIS) - Yesterday, in the Ad Hoc Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, Archbishop Renato Martino announced a $20,000 symbolic contribution by the Holy See to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The Holy See permanent observer to the United Nations stated: "Each year the delegation of the Holy See participates in pledging conferences by offering symbolic contributions which are intended to express the Holy See's encouragement of the good works undertaken by the international community. ... This is especially true for the work of the Catholic Church with Palestinian refugees."

He pointed to the Church's Pontifical Mission for Palestine, established in 1949 by Pope Pius XII, and said that "during this past year, the pontifical mission coordinated expenditures of some $6.8 million for the refugees."

Archbishop Martino then announced that "in order to encourage the humanitarian work of UNRWA during this particularly stressful period, my delegation wishes to announce its symbolic pledge of $5,000 to the UNRWA programs for 1997 ... and in addition an extraordinary contribution of $15,000."
DELSS/DONATION REFUGEES/UN:MARTINO VIS 961206 (180)