In the formulation of these views, as well as in its general attitude towards the question under consideration, the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem is guided by a paramount desire, shared, we believe, by all Christians, to preserve the peace of Jerusalem and to safeguard the Holy City from any developments which might jeopardize the security of the places of worship or cause troubles or even bloodshed in this city which has already suffered so much With this in mind, the following points are made; which, at this stage, are necessarily of a more general character, while specific suggestions may come from the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem at a later date.

      1. The fundamental principle adhered to until today with regard to the Holy Places, religious buildings and sites in Jerusalem and the surrounding area has been the maintenance of the existing rights. It is deemed essential further to adhere to this principle of the status quo and to find the way to express it in an unambiguous form, thus laying the basis for the international status of the Holy City.

      2. On the basis of the principle accepted with regard to the status quo, as above, a provision should be made for the maintenance of the ethnological and linguistic peculiarity of any Church and for the preservation of the existing character of the Cloisters belonging to any denomination.

      3. It would, furthermore, be necessary to include a provision in the Statute to the effect that the real and other property of the Church be exempt from taxes in any form and that they cannot be appropriated for any reason.

      4. In addition, another provision should be included to the effect that no interference of civilian authorities or laymen is to be permitted in the administration of this property, according to the existing ecclesiastical law and the rules of the Church.

      5. The Patriarch or head of any denomination, when selected according to the ecclesiastical rules, should eo ipso be considered as the representative of his denomination with all powers and privileges appertaining to his office, and should not need a separate formal recognition by the Governor of the City or any other civilian authority.

      6. It might further be useful to recognize these Patriarchates or denominations as having a legal personality.

      7. The education offered presently by any denomination and the jurisdiction exercised by the heads of these denominations should continue in its present form.

      8. The free appointment of clergymen should be secured, taking into account the ethnological and linguistic peculiarity of the Patriarchate or denomination concerned. Provision should be made for the regulation of their status as citizens of the City.

      9. With regard to the person or persons to whom the administration of the Holy City will be entrusted, provision will be made, no doubt, to ensure that they will be selected or appointed from among persons whose impartiality is beyond question. An additional guarantee, however, which the Orthodox Patriarchate is ready to suggest, is that these persons should not belong to any of the denominations having direct interest in the keeping of the Holy Places. The same considerations would apply to any judicial body eventually to be established with jurisdiction over disputes involving the Holy Places.

      The above points do not represent a systematic and detailed layout for a statute of the Holy City and the surrounding area. They constitute a number of remarks of a general character and the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem remains, therefore, at the disposal of the Trusteeship Council and of the United Nations in general, with a view to presenting, if necessary' at a later stage its views in oral or written form in detail.

      In concluding, I wish to avail myself of this opportunity to assure you, Mr. President the other honourable members of the Council that the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Orthodox Christians in general pray to God, that He may bless your work and guide your decisions towards establishing peace in the Holy City.

(Signed) Archbishop MICHAEL