Greece and Egypt Reaffirm Commitment to Saint Catherine’s Monastery

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis met with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, in Athens today, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the Hellenic Orthodox character and continuity of Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai, Egypt.

Agreement on Saint Catherine’s Monastery

During the meeting, Abdelatty announced that an agreement between Egyptian authorities and Saint Catherine’s Monastery is forthcoming. He dismissed rumors about the monastery’s future as “malicious” and “baseless,” emphasising, “Saint Catherine’s is sacred, and no one will touch it.” The monastery, one of the oldest Christian sites in the world, has maintained its Hellenic Orthodox identity for over 15 centuries.

Gerapetritis expressed confidence in Egypt’s respect for religious traditions, noting President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s warm remarks about the monastery during his visit to Athens for the Greece-Egypt High-Level Cooperation Council. “Our shared intention is to ensure the monastery’s uninterrupted continuity under its long-established status quo,” Gerapetritis stated. He added that he received assurances from Abdelatty that the Hellenic Orthodox character of the monastery would remain undisturbed.

Strengthening Greece-Egypt Relations

Gerapetritis highlighted the exemplary relationship between Greece and Egypt, describing both nations as “pillars of stability” in the volatile Eastern Mediterranean region. He noted the fifth anniversary of the agreement on the delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between the two countries, calling it a model of cooperation.

Regional Cooperation and Libya

The ministers also discussed regional issues, including migration and maritime zone delimitation. Gerapetritis praised Egypt’s effectiveness in protecting its maritime borders and announced plans to enhance coordination on migration. He revealed that Greece intends to initiate technical-level talks with Libya, stressing that Greece, Egypt, and Libya, as genuine neighbours, have a shared interest in maritime delimitation based on international law.

Gaza Crisis

On the Gaza crisis, Gerapetritis underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians, and the unconditional release of hostages. He reaffirmed Greece’s steadfast support for Egypt’s role in addressing regional challenges.

The meeting underscores the deepening strategic partnership between Greece and Egypt, rooted in mutual respect and shared goals for stability and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

(Source: In.gr)