I kindly thank you for your presence here today. It is my great pleasure and honor to welcome to the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs my dear friend, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Badr Abdelatty.
Honorable Minister, dear friend,
A few months ago, on May 2025, we signed the Joint Declaration establishing the Strategic Partnership between our neighboring countries. A Partnership that reflects the close historical ties between our peoples and the centuries-long journey of our ancient civilizations. At the same time, it vividly expresses the level of our cooperation today, which has reached its highest point, based on International Law and mutual understanding on many complex geopolitical issues.
Greece and Egypt remain pillars of stability, having developed an exemplary and multifaceted relationship amid a volatile international environment, in a particularly fragile region such as the Eastern Mediterranean, marked by intensifying crises and complex challenges. The Agreement on the delimitation of our Exclusive Economic Zones remains exemplary, today, exactly five years since its signing.
With regard to the crisis in Gaza, the top priority is to achieve a ceasefire, ensure the mass flow of humanitarian aid to civilians, and secure the unconditional release of hostages. In cooperation with Egypt, we will continue to undertake humanitarian initiatives in the region.
As we stated at the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question in New York, Greece remains firmly in favor of the resumption of the political process, aimed at achieving a two-state solution, based on UN Resolutions, as the only answer to the long-standing demand of the Palestinians for an independent state and of Israel for security in the region. In this context, we support the Arab plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, in which Egypt has played a leading role.
With regard to Syria, Greece and Egypt support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a unified state, with the participation of all Syrians, and with universal respect for International Law. We condemn the recent attacks on civilians and religious sites in southern Syria and call on the country's transitional leadership to take all necessary, precautionary and repressive, measures to ensure the safety of all populations, especially Christians and all religious and ethnic communities.
Regarding Libya, a common neighbor of both our countries, I informed the Minister about my recent visits to Benghazi and Tripoli. We agree on the need to revive the political process. We further agree that the Libyan people should decide their future through free and fair elections, without foreign interference, in order to elect a representative government. A stable and united Libya is in the interests of the country itself, but also of regional peace and prosperity.
Greece and Egypt share a common position on the two major issues concerning Libya, namely irregular migration and the delimitation of maritime zones. Egypt has been particularly efficient in protecting its maritime borders. We also agreed to enhance coordination in the area of irregular migration flows.
With regard to the delimitation of maritime zones, Greece has already proceeded with the partial delimitation of the EEZ with Egypt, and we intend to initiate technical-level discussions with Libya. Greece, Egypt, and Libya are genuine neighbor countries and have every interest in proceeding with the remaining delimitations in accordance with International Law of the Sea. It is self-evident that agreements which are not based on International Law have no legal effect. Moreover, they cause tensions in an already troubled region. We support Egypt’s rights on its natural resources and the protection of its natural environment.
I would particularly like to commend the mediating role that Egypt, and personally my friend the Minister of Foreign Affairs, have assumed in promoting regional stability in extremely difficult times, regarding the complex situation in Libya, the major crisis in the Middle East, Iran and its nuclear program, the conflicts and humanitarian risks in sub-Saharan Africa.
Egypt is the natural leader in this region, having the ability not only to ensure conditions of normalcy, but also to counter any illegitimate and destabilizing influence that other countries in the wider region are attempting to exert.
Honorable Minister,
I understand and appreciate the sensitivity expressed by President Sisi and the efforts that both the President and yourself are undertaking regarding the Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai. For Greece and Orthodox Christians everywhere, the Monastery is not only the oldest functioning place of worship but also a unique universal cultural symbol. Besides, it was President Sisi himself who referred with kind words to the continuity of the sacred character of the Monastery, on the occasion of his visit to Athens within the framework of the High Level Cooperation Council.
As was the case last June in Cairo, our discussions today, in Athens, have been productive with regard to the legal status of the Monastery, as well as the promotion of the Monastery as a global religious center. Our common intention is for the Monastery to continue its functions undisturbed, under the status quo that has been established over the past 15 centuries. I am convinced that Egypt will honor the tradition of respect for all religions and doctrines, which itself has formed over time. Once again today, I was reassured by my friend the Minister that the continuity and the sacred Greek-orthodox character of the Monastery will not be disturbed. This is a token of the religious tolerance and respect for religious rights that Egypt has always demonstrated.
Honorable Minister,
I would like to thank you for the exemplary cooperation, both on the bilateral level and within the framework of international organizations.
On the bilateral level, we are working systematically towards further developing our bilateral trade, our energy interconnection, in particular through the emblematic electricity project GREGY Interconnector, while we are ensuring the continuous upgrading of the legal migration pathway from Egypt to Greece, which is a significant and highly beneficial prospect for our economy. We will continue our effort towards lifting any bureaucratic obstacles with regard to the agreement on legal pathways of migration.
Greece remains a firm supporter of Egypt within the EU. It assumed a leading role in the signing of the EU–Egypt Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership and continues to do so in supporting the measures implementing this Partnership. We enjoy the same understanding within the UN framework, where Greece, an elected member of the Security Council, expresses the position of our friend Egypt. In particular, we join our voices in all international fora on the need to efficiently ensure freedom of navigation, especially in the Red Sea.
Concluding, I would like to thank you again, honorable Minister, dear friend, for your presence here today, which is an expression of the friendly and brotherly relations between our peoples.
August 6, 2025