Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Pope Shenouda confirmed in the recent press conference that the reputation of Egypt is important for the Coptic Church. He also said that Copts care about the success of the visit of Mubarak to the USA because he is the greatest symbol of this country. Pope Shenouda also insisted on the President being welcomed in the USA by emigrant Copts there in order to assure the West that there is unity between the citizens of the country and that no one can harm this unity.



He pointed out that the Copts in Egypt are enjoying their freedom, and the Coptic Church gives the Egyptian government enough time in order to solve the problems that confronts the Copts in Egypt without any struggle or tension.



Pope Shenouda also confirmed that the trend of terrorism decreased greatly in the last few years. He also criticized foreign attempts, which are trying to interfere in the internal affairs of Egypt under the guise of protecting the Copts’ rights.



Concerning the problem of repairing the old churches, he said that repairing the old churches had been a problem but it is now solved especially after the president’s decision to leave this matter for the governors.



On a different topic, Pope Shenouda mentioned that all the Christian churches in Egypt agreed on the project draft of the unified personal affairs law. This draft has now been given to the Ministry of Justice and the People’s Assembly will discuss it.



This issue has also been covered in the following three newspaper articles:

- Al-Ahram, June 24, 1999, ’Repairing a large number of churches in different governorates. We refuse the claims that are raised against Egypt in the West’ by: Ahmed Moussa


- Al-Watani, June 27, 1999, ’In an important press conference: Pope Shenouda speaks about the Coptic Waqf properties and the most important up-to-date cases.’ by: Musad Sadeq and Maher Ayaad


- Al-Nabaa Al-Watani, June 27, 1999, ’The stories of the divorced women and the love affairs with the Pope in Abbassiyya.’ Author: Not mentioned