Greece's President Prokopis Pavlopoulos has condemned the terrorist attack where more than 47 people have been killed after bomb explosions in two separate attacks on Coptic churches in Egypt on Sunday.
“Today we had two truly heinous terrorist strikes in Egypt and we had there, once again, a display of the true face of terrorism's barbarity. First of all, I should like to express my deepest condolences and the grief of the Greek people to the president of Egypt and the Egyptian people.
"Europe especially, based on its history and its culture, has a duty to assume its responsibilities. What is happening in the Middle East, in Syria and elsewhere must end. First of all there must be an end to the underlying cause of all this, which is the war," he said.
"We must all, and especially in Europe, stand up against barbaric jihadist terrorism and all terrorism," Pavlopoulos added.
"Especially we Greeks will not back down even one moment. Our conscience as Greeks will not rest unless terrorism stops undermining the foundations of peace among humanity and does not stop undermining human beings, their worth and personality."
The Greek President made the remarks while attending the 191st anniversary since the tragic assault on Messolonghi of 1826 by the Ottomon Turks during Greece's war of independence.
Greece’s Foreign Ministry release a statement expressing its support for the people of Egypt:
“Shocked at the deadly bombing attack that took place at the Coptic church of St. George, in the city of Tanta, Egypt, we unequivocally condemn terrorism in all its forms.
“Such instances of barbaric, blind violence will not impinge on the tolerant and multi-faith nature of Egyptian society.
“Greece stands at the side of its friend Egypt and addresses its deep condolences to the victims’ loved ones, the Egyptian people and their government.” Said the statement
The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II expressed his horror at the Palm Sunday terrorist strikes, noting that the events darkened one of the greatest Christian holidays.
"We stand at the side of the Egyptian people," he said.
The terrorists attacked congregations in the city of Tanta and Alexandria which is also the seat of the Coptic Orthodox Church Pope. The first church attacked was that of St. George in the city of Tanta and the second church that of St. Mark in the city of Alexandria, relatively near the Greek-Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa.
According the Consulate General of Greece in Alexandria there were no reports of Greek nationals amongst the victims of these horrific attacks.
“For the moment we have no such reports. No Greeks have been caught up in the attacks’’ said Consul-General Emmanuel Kakavelakis.
