In an attempt to prevent the committed, which alter the physiognomy and its legal status Holy Monastery of St. Catherine in Sinaia World Heritage Site and a unique living space of Christian religious expression and function, Athens calls on Cairo to new consultations, in order to imprint the spirit of understanding that had been achieved between the leaders of the two countries and the working groups.
After Mitsotaki – Sisi communicationhad been agreed to have conversations between the two sides. Eventually, while the team of experts were going to go to Cairo today, it was announced that the mission would lead the Foreign Minister himself, George Gerapetritisand the meeting will take place on Wednesday in the Egyptian capital with Egyptian header M. Abdellati.
It is obvious that the Egyptian side prefers political negotiation, from the debate at the level of technocrats, which will focus, in fact, and the settlement achieved. In any case, if any approach will be needed and political confirmation at a higher level.
Strict messages
The priority of the Greek side is “maintaining the pilgrimage and Greek Orthodox character of the monastery and resolving the issue in an institutional manner”, while the two leaders agreed that the solution lies in the already recorded common understanding of the two sides, as well as in What had been agreed privately and publicly announced during the visit of the Egyptian President to Athens on May 7.
The revelation (From protothema.gr yesterday) that Egypt itself has accepted for years, in the context of UNESCOthe monastery as a legal owner of the buildings and premises, leaves Cairo exposed to the monastery and the international organization and offers an important argument to the Greek side.
Following the mobilization of Athens as soon as it became known The unexpected move by issuing the decision of the Ismail Court of Appeal For the appeals and appeals aimed at challenging and removing the ownership of the monastery on its ownership, inside and outside the monastery itself, Cairo sent to Athens reassuringly but not clear messages about the substance of the case.
The Egyptian Presidency, in fact, insists that the court’s rulings “reinforce” its commitments to maintain its religious nature. Single.
And the question that remains is whether it leaves Cairo for meaningful discussions, as it has left a judicial committed by violating the consultation that had taken place at a higher political level, which would validate the out -of -court settlement that had been reached between him and his monastery. According to this compromise, it was explicitly envisaged that the judicial procedure would be stopped and the legal personality of the monastery would be recognized as the owner of the buildings and land he owns for centuries, while recognizing the responsibilities of the Egyptian Archaeological Service. Thus, the pending ownership of the monastery would be permanently resolved and would be institutionally and legally shielded. It will be extremely difficult for Athens to accept a process that would simply lead to the institutionalization of the court’s ruling with the signature of Athens …
Arabian bazaar
By the court ruling, Summary published by Egyptian media And the lawyers of the monastery are in possession, essentially, with the logic of the Arab bazaar, are invited to consider a favorable evolution that only the remote assets (buildings, plots, parcels) are confiscated, and that it remains in its “gray”
There, the prediction is that it will…. monks the right to continue to perform their duties. This report, without explicit reference to the ownership status, makes the monastery substantially deducted from the ownership of the premises and even by court, as it simply grants the right to use religious duties.
The decision has been rejected treatment Against the monastery for a series of assets, including the monastery itself and the sites within the walls, only in the side concerning the request for immediate eviction of “monks” monks and the payment of compensation for the “illegal” possession and use of the space. However, the monastery was not accepted that demanded the recognition of its ownership of the monastery itself and the walls within the walls.
Statements of both the Presidency of Egypt and the Foreign Ministry, That the “religious character” of the monastery will not be affected, everything else is reassuring, as of course there was never a question of conversion of the temple and the sacred space within the walls into a … resort or club. But this was never the point, except for the Egyptian state recognition of the monastery’s ownership of its assets.
Enemy
Athens wants to exhaust the room for understanding with Cairo, but it must clearly say that such a move is not only hostile to Greece but also to the world community. Will burden the picture the Egypt In Europe and the connection of the persecution, essentially, of the over -communal Christian presence, will also affect the image of the area’s tourist redevelopment plan.
Cairo’s handling It creates reflection in Athens, as it is a first major blow to Egypt’s credibility as a close partner and interlocutor, with which they share common interests and face common challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean. And Athens is trying to balance so as not to be forced to accept the Sinai committed in order not to disturb the political relationship of the two countries, which will thus cease to be equal.
The Egyptian government, which in recent years has been investing in the tourist redevelopment of many areas as a means of economic recovery and survival of the country, has for years targeted the Sinai region.
Also, with Pharaohs such as what she plans, she wants to “cement” her sovereignty in Sinai, which has been an apple of contention with Israel and in the last decade is the focus of Islamic terrorism and ISIS. The importance also attributed to these projects has one more reason: endemic corruption in public works, as there are huge financial interests for the brief completion of the tourist exploitation of the area. And the Monastery of St. Catherine, with its specific rules of operation, its spirituality and its significant property in the region, is a serious obstacle to this plan.
“The Great Transfiguration”
In a “Disneyland” entertainment, religious, healing, climbing and luxurious tourism, the Egyptian government wants to turn the Sinai area, With one of the well -known pharaoh plans called “The Great Transfiguration”.
Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli had recently visited the area to oversee the first work and to ask for speeding up the projects so that the inauguration of President Sisi, who has shown personal interest in this grandeur, soon.
The plan provides for the creation of large infrastructure projects, the reuse of groundwater, flood protection, the creation of a road network that connects the tourist destinations of southern Sinai, such as Dahab and Sharm El Sheikh, as well as the development of Agia Catherine Airport and others.
Projects under construction include a new visitors center at the entrance of the city at Wady El-Kunds Square. There is also the “Peace Square and Building”, an area of 12,000 square meters that will include outdoor celebrations, museum, theater, meeting room, cafeteria and meeting rooms.
The existing ecological accommodation is expanding, with 74 chalets and a new restaurant, to accommodate a growing number of visitors. A new ecological accommodation in the Wadi El-Rha is developing, with 192 environmentally friendly rooms and 56 suites. A mountainous hotel covering 12,900 square meters will offer multiple views of the Monastery of St. Catherine, the Plateau of Mount Metamorphosis and the Wadi El-Raha. The hotel will incorporate a large cave in the mountains, creating a unique environment with panoramic views. Next to the foothills of the mountain, a garden in the desert will connect the new ecological accommodation with the mountainous hotel, and a pedestrian street known as “Moses ‘path”, mimic Moses’ historical route via Wadi El-Rhaa, leading to Metamorphosis.
The project also includes a new residential area in the area Zestunawhich will include residential units, services and 21 hotel complexes with a total of 546 residential units. The project “Great Transfiguration” includes the upgrading of the existing ecological accommodation and the construction of a young man, the creation of a peace park, the construction of a mountain hotel, the opening of a new center of visitors and administrative complex, as well as the development of the tourist area and the Cultural Center in the City.
It will also focus on upgrading the residential area of local Bedouins and the construction of a new residential complex, the development of the monastery valley and the construction of a new network of public roads and services with security measures against floods. There will also be a spiritual refuge in the mountains surrounding the Sacred Valley, which will become a leading destination for holistic and therapeutic tourism, in addition to being a Mecca for climbers.
The project will make various tourist and recreational services available for visitors, such as golf cars to transport tourists from the parking lot to the Monastery of St. Catherine, one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world. Prime Minister Malbuli recently stressed the government’s commitment to overcome any obstacles that will arise during the implementation of the project