EDITORIAL
Today, Christians in Egypt celebrate the Resurrection; tomorrow all Egyptians join in celebrating Shamm al-Nessim, the Spring feast that goes back to ancient times. May Christians celebrate many happy returns of the Feast of the Resurrection, and may Egypt mark many happy more Spring feasts in the years to come. May these blessed, beautiful occasions return to find Egyptians working hand in hand, in love and faithfulness, for a modern civil Egypt.
Happy occasions induce hopes in a bright future, something we need today to ward off depression and defeat. I say so because it troubles me deeply to find some Egyptians lose faith in this country and its leadership. The great challenges that loom before us and the heavy burden of trouble Egypt has sustained since the 2011 Arab Spring has led to campaigns that sow doubts that the country is moving in the right direction. Such doubts lead to nothing but frustration; we had much better join forces to get the wheels of production rolling until we can again attain prosperity. In the meantime, we now have a State in place; we have a Constitution; House of Representatives; a government committed to executing a sound programme for which it is accountable in the short, medium, and long term. All this is reason enough for us to work undisturbed, and not allow anything to break our will or hinder our progress.
Amid the joy of the Resurrection, I am happy to extend my sincerest Easter wishes to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and to all the Coptic Orthodox clergy and congregation. I also offer my heartiest wishes to all the heads, bishops, clergy, and congregations of all the Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical Churches in Egypt. I pray for the Lord to protect Egypt and lead her along the path to progress and modernity.
Watani International
1 May 2016