Athens, Cairo back at the table over ancient monastery status
Greece and Egypt have entered a new phase of extended consultations over property rights at Saint Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai and its surrounding lands, following talks in Cairo on Wednesday that revealed gaps between the two nations’ positions.
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said after meeting his Egyptian counterpart that the countries agreed to work towards “securing the rights of the monastery, as well as its legal form and personality.”
“Our relationship with Egypt is deep and has developed strategic characteristics,” Gerapetritis told state broadcaster ERT. “Today, we discussed with the Egyptian foreign minister issues concerning the Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai. We agreed to work immediately toward securing the monastery’s rights. Egypt and Greece intend to proceed based on the long-standing tradition and already established status of an emblematic monastery for its Greek Orthodox worship character.”
The Greek delegation emphasized the ancient monastery’s unique value as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, highlighting special parameters of international law and the importance of maintaining the monastery’s status quo. However, the distance between the two approaches appears significant.
Egyptian representatives analyzed legal implications arising from a recent court decision affecting any new agreement’s legal aspects. Egypt reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the monastery’s Greek Orthodox character and ensuring unimpeded religious worship, though this was not the disputed issue in previous negotiations.
The core dispute centers on property rights to the monastery’s buildings and surrounding estates, with Greece emphasizing the importance of preserving the monastery’s ownership rights.
Sources close to the monastery suggest that developments point towards prolonging the dispute rather than an immediate resolution. The Egyptian delegation’s composition, including several legal experts, indicates discussions now operate under new parameters shaped by the court ruling.
The monastery is reportedly considering internationalizing the issue, potentially appealing to international organizations and EU bodies, with requests that could include suspending humanitarian and cultural funding to Egypt.
Source: ekathimerini.com
