Faced with Cairo’s invocation judgment It deprives Sinai’s Monastery of Saint Catherine of the ownership of the assets it has been in for centuries, is Athens, which tomorrow sends a special group of technocrats for conversations to determine what Cairo’s intentions are and to ask for a respected conscience. According to the design if required, the Foreign Minister will go to Cairo G. Gerettritis so that at a higher political level either attempts to overcome obstacles to negotiation or to be permanently and officially validated any new understanding.
In the third article of this settlement (Source: Kathimerini) the property of the monastery was recognized: “The parties agree that, according to the registration of the monastery of St. Catherine on the World Heritage List, the Monastery, its buildings, its plots, churches and related buildings referring to the attached and signed document from the parties are the ownership of the monastery.”
Athens insists that this article must be the basis of any talks and is ready to accept any proposals for adaptations from the Egyptian side, but will not overthrow the philosophy of the agreement. Mr. Mitsotakis in his communication with President al -Sism He stressed that “… It is important to preserve the Greek Orthodox and pilgrimage of the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai.”
It is obvious that Cairo, who methodically let the time rolling without signing the agreement, waiting for the court ruling, will rely on the decision of Egyptian justice (which, in terms of its independence, is targeted by the EU, which will be targeted by the EU. A key point for recognizing the ownership rights of the monastery.
The Egyptian Presidency’s announcement of the Egyptian side intentions, issued after the telephone communication of Prime Minister Mr. Mitsotakis with President al -Sisi, in which she is pointed out:
“… Communication emphasized Egypt’s steadfast commitment to maintain the unique and sacred religious regime of the Monastery of St. Catherine, ensuring that this regime remains untouched. This commitment is reinforced by the recent court ruling, which is aligned with the devotion of Egypt to the sanctity of religious and ecclesiastical spaces and confirms the unique heritage, spiritual and religious position of the Monastery of St. Catherine. “
The Egyptian side attempts to disconnect the ownership status of the monastery’s assets by ‘Respect for religious character and sacredness’ of the monastery, so that it can be fortified behind the court ruling and to withdraw from the agreement.
It is noteworthy that the formalities of the court ruling are… co -adapted to this negotiating line, as the court… granted the monks the right to perform their religious duties in the monastery’s premises, the ownership of which will be owned by the Egyptian state.
Thus, the monastery’s vibrant potential of about twenty, in the majority of elderly monks, with dubious possibility of renewal, It is converted after 1,500 years of uninterrupted operation of the monastery, into “guests” in its premises.
In Athens, where it sounded an alarm, Serious dilemmas have been put. No one wants the issue of the monastery to be a reason for a crisis in the valuable and strategic Greek -Egyptian relationship. On the other hand, however, the defense of such a sensitive issue and the attempt to impose committees is not a good precedent.
Athens could to some extent exert pressure on Cairo, warning of the consequences of such an evolution not only in Greek -Egyptian relations, but also on Egyptian relations with the European Union, from which it expects to receive 25 billion euros in the coming years. Greece has pioneered the last 12 years in trying to persuade Europe to overlook the state of human rights and the rule of law in Egypt and to restore a strategic relationship with the country and the Sisi regime.
At the same time, at a time when there are serious questions about how President Trump It will manage relations with Egypt, the mobilization of the Orthodox world by promoting the news that Cairo is taking measures against a historical living monument of Christianity will not be the best reception in Washington, where they are dominated by the Criminal Conflict of Cultures and Criminal Courts.
Of course, in a negotiation that has given difficulties, there is also the view that a compromise should somehow be found in order to cover the Egyptian side against the internal criticism it receives and a new agreement is compatible with the court’s ruling.
It is important to ensure Respect for the monastery’s worship and historical spaces, as well as the exercise of the religious duties of the monks, regardless of the ownership. He emphasizes a source with knowledge of the processes expressing a more “realistic” approach.
Cairo seems willing to give guarantees To preserve the religious character of the monastery’s spaces and the unhindered exercise of the religious duties of the monks, but these do not seem to be enough.
The monks, alienated from the sites and buildings inside and outside the wall, will be deprived of the necessary means to be able to survive and continue the uninterrupted operation of the monastery over time, which will gradually run the risk of degenerating a popular religious tourism destination.
Because there is no longer only a challenge to the ownership of the monastery on its ownership, but by a court ruling it is declared property of the Egyptian state. Something that in the future does not guarantee the monastery if a new Egyptian government decides differently and distanced itself from the guarantees that President Sisi now generously gives.
Talks on the agreement on settlement were not an easy task. Athens was expecting, despite the constant nuisances to Cairo, almost eight months until the representative who would undertake the negotiations with the monastery, with the participation of the Greek delegation was appointed.
Finally, The Egyptian side appointed the commander of South Sinai as its representative. After painful negotiations, the two sides reached the agreement that attributed full ownership rights to the monastery. The climate was particularly positive, as the prospect of signing in the next phase of a memorandum, which would give a definitive solution to the issue of staffing the monastery, addressing the issue of permits and the performance of Egyptian citizenship to the monks and to anyone who emerges.
In principle, the agreement that existed was that the agreement had been signed before Sisi’s visit. Then, as the Egyptian side was delayed, there was the expectation that it would be signed alongside the realization of the ASS in Athens. But again there was stubbornness on the Egyptian side.
In fact, Egyptian ambassador contacted Archbishop Damianos And he informed him that there was an objection from the Egyptian Ministry of Justice. Something that was obvious surprise and dissatisfaction, as when the deal was closed, it had previously been checked by all relevant services and ministries.
The Greek side and the monastery’s representatives repeatedly called on the Egyptian side to present the change they wanted, something that never happened, as, as they all show, it was a planned delay until the court ruling was issued.