Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Dr. Muhammad Hamdi Zakzouk, Egyptian Minister of Endowments, said that the vicious campaigns against Egypt which claim that there is persecution against Copts are campaigns made by suspicious foreign bodies that are obvious in their motives.



Talking to Al-Ahram, the minister said that "the whole world knows that Muslims and Copts have been living together for the last 14 centuries as one people. Sharing weddings and moments of grief, loving their nation and fighting for it with their souls. So why this campaign against Egypt?" asked the minister. "Has the situation changed in Egypt and a war has broken out between Muslim and Christian brothers?" he asked.



The Minister said that all clues confirm that there are foreign powers that do not want Egypt to develop and become stronger and have any independent position of principle towards certain issues. That is why they, every now and then, trigger these cheap conspiracies. However, the Egyptian peoples’ strong unity will disappoint their hopes. Muslims and Christians will continue to be alert to these conspiracies. The one
fabric will continue on its road to development led by President Hosni Mubarak.



The Minister of Endowments also announced that he and the Grand Imam Sheikh of the Azhar Dr. Sayyed Tantawi, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III and Dr. Nasr Farid Wasel, the republic’s Mufti as well as leaders from the Azhar, the church and endowments will all participate in putting the foundation stone for a church in the Governorate of Beheira. This expresses truthfully to the whole world the true prevailing mood in Egypt.