Agreement near for Sinai Monastery – What the proposed property settlement includes

Sources familiar with the process, cited by Proto Thema , express optimism that the intensive negotiations between the Monastery of Saint Catherine at Sinai and the Egyptian state regarding the monastery’s property status may soon reach a conclusion.

Time is pressing, as the ruling of the Ismailia Court—which cast doubt on both the monastery’s property rights and its very legal standing—is becoming increasingly entrenched. At the same time, there is a risk that Egypt’s Supreme Court could issue a ruling on appeals filed by both the monks and the Egyptian state, potentially undermining any framework for an out-of-court settlement.

According to available information, the talks are progressing positively and are converging on a formula considered the most realistic solution under the adverse circumstances created by the court ruling. The negotiations are taking place between the Egyptian state and the monastery, while Athens is closely monitoring developments and providing support. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has reportedly included the issue in his discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has undertaken…