By Proto-Thema –
The behind-the-scenes negotiations on the details of the agreement are intense.
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Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s return to the Monastery last Friday, for the enthronement of the new Archbishop, Mr. Symeon, marks an important milestone. His presence was not merely ceremonial, but deeply substantive, following months of turmoil sparked by the decision of the Ismailia Court of Appeal, which had called into question the Monastery’s presence and refused to recognize its property status over the land it has occupied for centuries. A few weeks ago, the Prime Minister announced from the floor of Parliament that an agreement with Egypt on the issue was forthcoming. Prior to that, discussions had taken place between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis, and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty. In recent days, it appears that the agreement is in its final stage, though, as always, the devil lies in the details.
The Role of the Brotherhood
“The efforts of the Greek and Egyptian states have already opened the way for the Monastery’s spiritual character to be preserved perpetually, as well as its rights and the protection of the monks who serve it. The agreed-upon directions and principles will, of course, be presented to the Sinai Brotherhood, which, Your Eminence, will have the final say,” Mr. Mitsotakis stated meaningfully in his response during the ceremony at Sinai. According to those well informed, this was not said by chance — neither for practical nor for substantive reasons.
According to information obtained by To Thema, the final agreement between the Egyptian State and the Monastery will define the key aspects of their relationship. Therefore, Archbishop Symeon will be called upon to sign the final document on behalf of the Monastery. However, for this to happen, he must first be granted Egyptian citizenship, just as his predecessor, Archbishop Damianos, had. This requires a Presidential Decree by President Al-Sisi, which, in principle, should be a matter of a few weeks.
From that point on, the more difficult part begins: the monks of the Sinai Monastery must agree on a unified stance and approach the agreement with one voice. Although the resignation of Archbishop Damianos and the elevation of Symeon to Archbishop appear to have diffused tensions, they still simmer beneath the surface.
As relevant sources note, on the night before Symeon’s election, the behind-the-scenes maneuvering was intense. Even now, the twenty monks who make up the Brotherhood are divided. One group, associated with Damianos, remains in Athens as tensions have not fully subsided; Symeon has his own small group of supporters; and two other monks, Niphon and Hesychios, also hold influence. In other words, coordination among all sides is required so that the Monastery may present a unified position.
Behind the Scenes
In any case, the behind-the-scenes negotiations on the details of the agreement are intense. According to information, the agreement will regulate all matters concerning the Monastery’s presence and ensure its protection, overcoming the negative precedent set by the recent appellate ruling. The primary concern is the safeguarding of the Monastery’s Christian Orthodox character — a feature historically recognized by Egypt. This is also a commitment arising from the Montreux Convention, and it was affirmed in the documentation Egypt submitted to UNESCO when the Monastery was recognized as a heritage site.
Another issue concerns residency permits for the monks. It is considered unlikely that they will receive citizenship, and instead they will be granted renewable residence permits. The most critical issue, however, is property rights. Some circles within the Monastery have emphasized from the outset the risk that local authorities in Ismailia may attempt to appropriate the Monastery’s property for commercial and tourism exploitation, thereby depriving the Monastery of essential resources.
Sources familiar with the negotiations state that the final text will include provisions more favorable than the previously suggested “right of use,” which would effectively make the Monastery a lessee on its own land. Two possible legal frameworks under discussion are “possession” or “usufruct,” although the discussion remains active, and, as in all legal matters, details are crucial. Additionally, great emphasis is being placed on safeguard mechanisms to secure the Monastery’s position.
According to informed circles, thanks to the warm relationship between Mr. Mitsotakis and Mr. Sisi, the productive cooperation between Mr. Gerapetritis and Mr. Abdelatty, and the de-escalation of tensions, significant progress has been achieved and there is genuine willingness to conclude an agreement that will resolve an issue that has strained bilateral relations — relations that are extremely important for Athens in the current climate of geopolitical uncertainty.
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Translated from:
https://www.protothema.gr/politics/article/1720334/stin-teliki-eutheia-i-sumfonia-gia-ti-moni-sina/
