The Coptic Orthodox Church has announced that Pope Tawadros II is declining to meet with US Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to Cairo planned later this month.
The Church spokesperson declared that the decision was taken in the wake of the recent announcement by President Donald Trump to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The Church spokesperson said the US decision totally disregarded the sentiments of millions of Arab people.
He added that the Church was praying for everyone concerned to exercise wisdom and patience, and for peace to prevail in the region.
A few days ago, the Church had issued a statement expressing deep concern regarding news that the US administration would recognise Jerusalem as capital of Israel.
The planned US move, the statement said, violated all international treaties regarding Jerusalem, and was bound to generate great perils that stood to negatively impact the Middle East and the whole world.
The Church called on preserving the legal status of Jerusalem within international references and UN resolutions. It confirmed its support for all endeavours that aimed at enhancing the peace process, and called for adopting negotiation as the ideal approach to ensure a fair situation that would conform with the historic right of Jerusalem, in order to reach a fair peaceful comprehensive solution.
Watani International
10 December 2017