Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty with his Greek counterpart, Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis during their meeting in Cairo, Egypt. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty briefed his Greek counterpart on the judicial ruling on 28 May regarding the land surrounding Saint Catherine's Monastery in South Sinai.
He stressed that the ruling does not compromise the monastery or its associated historic sites or affect its spiritual and religious status. On the contrary, Abdelatty explained, the ruling upholds the monastery's spiritual significance and its monks' right to continue to use the monastery, its surrounding lands, and its religious and archaeological zones.
It also ensures maintaining the status quo of the monastery and that its religious and spiritual functions remain uninterrupted, the Egyptian FM affirmed.
Furthermore, Abdelatty emphasised that President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has repeatedly affirmed—most recently during his visit to Athens on 7 May—Egypt's unwavering commitment to preserving the sanctity and religious significance of the monastery against encroachment.
El-Sisi added that this commitment reflects Egypt's long-standing and deeply rooted respect for the monastery's sacred and religious character and the country's enduring values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence among religions.
The two ministers also discussed enhancing relations between Egypt and Greece.
Following his meeting with Abdelatty on Wednesday, Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis revealed to Greek media that the two sides have agreed to reinforce the monastery's rights and define its legal status and identity.
He stated that Egypt and Greece's actions regarding the monastery will be based on centuries-old traditions, the monastery's status quo, symbolic significance, and Greek Orthodox character.
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