Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced a landmark agreement with Egypt securing the future of St Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai – one of the world’s oldest Christian sites.
The deal ends months of diplomatic tension over Egypt’s tourism plans near the UNESCO site and ensures, as Mitsotakis told parliament, that “the character of the monastery is guaranteed in perpetuity” and that “any conversion of the monastery or other places of worship is prohibited.”
The announcement came during a parliamentary debate on foreign policy, where Mitsotakis called for unity “beyond party lines” and outlined Greece’s growing role as a pillar of stability, energy hub, and bridge for cooperation in a volatile world.
He reaffirmed Greece’s support for a two-state solution in the Middle East, closer partnerships with Israel, Egypt, and Arab nations, and a structured dialogue with Turkey aimed at reducing tensions while protecting sovereignty.
Mitsotakis also tied Greece’s diplomatic strength to its economic recovery and defence upgrades, citing the €28 billion modernisation programme.
Concluding, he said Greece now acts as “an equal power” in Europe and abroad, urging all parties to pursue a “patriotism of responsibility and an active diplomacy of results.”
Source: Ekathimerini and AMNA
