Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis with Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty posing for an image. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"It is with great pleasure and honour that I welcome to the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs my dear friend, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Badr Abdelatty," said Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis on Tuesday in Athens.
"In May 2025, we signed the Joint Declaration establishing the Strategic Partnership between our two neighbouring countries – a relationship that reflects the deep historical ties between our peoples and the enduring legacy of our ancient civilisations," he noted.
"At the same time, this partnership vividly demonstrates the current strength of our cooperation, which has reached an all-time high, grounded in international law and mutual understanding across a range of complex geopolitical issues," he added.
Gerapetritis described Greece and Egypt as "pillars of stability" in a region marked by escalating crises and intricate challenges. "We have developed an exemplary and multifaceted relationship, particularly in the sensitive Eastern Mediterranean," he stressed.
Referring to the Agreement on the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone between the two countries, Gerapetritis described it as "exemplary", noting that it remains a model agreement five years after its signing.
Turning to the situation in Gaza, the Greek minister reaffirmed that "our absolute priority remains achieving a ceasefire, ensuring the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to civilians, and securing the unconditional release of hostages."
"In coordination with Egypt, we will continue to take humanitarian initiatives in the region," he said.
On Syria, Gerapetritis condemned the recent attacks on civilians and religious sites in the country's south.
Concerning Libya – a country he described as a "common neighbour" – Gerapetritis briefed Minister Abdelatty on his recent visits to Benghazi and Tripoli.
"A stable and unified Libya is not only in the interest of the Libyan people but also critical to regional peace and prosperity," he emphasised.
He also confirmed that the two countries had agreed to strengthen cooperation in tackling irregular migration flows.
Commenting on the historic Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai, Gerapetritis stated: "For Greece and Orthodox Christians everywhere, the Monastery is not only the oldest continually functioning place of worship, but also a unique symbol of ecumenical heritage."
"Just as in our meeting in Cairo last June, today's discussion in Athens was extremely constructive, particularly regarding the legal status of the Monastery and efforts to further highlight its role as a global religious centre," he added.
"I received firm assurances from my friend the Minister that the continuity and Greek Orthodox character of the Monastery will remain intact – a testament to Egypt's longstanding respect for religious freedom and its tradition of tolerance," he noted.
The Greek minister went on to express appreciation for what he described as "exemplary cooperation," both bilaterally and within international organisations.
"On the bilateral level, we are working systematically to strengthen trade ties, enhance energy interconnectivity – particularly through the flagship GREGY Interconnector project – and ensure the continuous development of legal migration pathways from Egypt to Greece. These efforts are of immense value to the Greek economy," he explained.
He further underscored the importance of removing bureaucratic hurdles hindering the implementation of the legal migration agreement between the two countries.
"Greece remains a steadfast supporter of Egypt within the European Union," he said. "It played a leading role in securing the EU-Egypt Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement and continues to actively support its implementation."
"In closing, I would like once again to thank you, esteemed Minister and dear friend, for your presence here today – a clear expression of the enduring friendship and fraternity between our two peoples," Gerapetritis concluded.
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