CAIRO – 6 August 2025: Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration Badr Abdelatty has reaffirmed Egypt's steadfast commitment to protecting religious holy sites, including St. Catherine's Monastery.
He stressed preserving the sacred religious status of the monastery, ensuring its protection, and safeguarding its affiliated archaeological sites, given its spiritual value and religious importance.
This came during a meeting held by the foreign minister on Wednesday with his Greek counterpart, Giorgos Gerapetritis, during his current official visit to Athens aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.
Abdelatty highlighted the affirmation made by the Egyptian President during his recent visit to Athens on May 7th and during phone calls with the Greek premier regarding Egypt's full commitment to preserving the monastery's sacred religious status.
That reflects Egypt's complete and unwavering respect for the religious and sacred character of the monastery, within the framework of the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence among religions that have been firmly rooted in Egypt throughout its history.
Abdelatty praised the historical ties and close relations between Egypt and Greece, which received a significant boost following the visit of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to Athens on May 7, and the convening of the first session of the High-Level Cooperation Council between the two countries, during which relations were elevated to a strategic partnership.
The top diplomat highlighted the focus on enhancing bilateral relations in all fields, especially in the economic, commercial, and investment sectors, by encouraging and supporting the activities of Greek companies and businesspeople to operate in the Egyptian market and invest in the many available opportunities and advantages in various sectors.
He highlighted the priority Egypt gives to the rapid activation of the seasonal labor agreement signed between the two countries, as part of joint efforts to prevent illegal emigration, affirming keenness to enhance cooperation in this area.
Concerning Greece's membership in the UN Security Council for the years 2025-2026, the two ministers reviewed a number of regional and international issues of common interest.
The meeting addressed developments in Libya and the critical importance of holding presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously as soon as possible, as well as the necessity of dismantling militias and the withdrawal of all foreign forces, foreign fighters, and mercenaries, as this is the only guarantee for achieving security and stability in Libya.
The two ministers also discussed the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.
Abdelatty stressed the need to stop the flagrant Israeli violations in the Strip and the policy of systematic starvation.
He briefed his Greek counterpart on the latest developments in ceasefire negotiations and the ongoing efforts by Egypt to ensure the delivery of humanitarian and medical aid.
The foreign minister pointed to the ongoing arrangements to host an early recovery and reconstruction conference once a ceasefire agreement is reached.
He stressed the necessity of presenting a political horizon to achieve a just and sustainable settlement of the Palestinian issue and help the Palestinian people regain their legitimate rights, topped by the right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state.
The two ministers also discussed the situation in Sudan and the importance of reaching a ceasefire and ensuring aid access.
Abdelatty affirmed Egypt's position in support of Sudanese state institutions and the necessity of respecting the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Sudan.
Egypt welcomes the five-year anniversary of the agreement on the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between Egypt and Greece.
He asserted that with political will, it is possible to reach fair and just solutions based on the principles of the international law of the sea that consider the interests of all parties.
This is what we aspire to in the Mediterranean to achieve development and prosperity for all peoples of the region, Abdelatty concluded.
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