The European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, held a meeting today with Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and all Africa in the framework of EU Commissioner’s official visit to Cairo. The two parts discussed the crucial issue of irregular immigration, since many migrant populations come from the countries of North Africa, and how best it can be dealt.
“There is a major immigration flow from North Africa,” the Patriarch said.
“As I have already stated many times, the Mediterranean should not be a cemetery of children and innocent souls, but a peaceful sea,” said Patriarch Theodore to ANA-MPA shortly after the meeting, attended by the Greek Ambassador to Cairo Michalis Christos Diamesis and Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo, Metropolitan Nicodemus of Memphis.
At the same time, the Greek EU Commissioner held an exchange of views with the Patriarch of Alexandria, both on how they can jointly contribute to the eradication of this phenomenon, and on issues that require multilateral cooperation between the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the European Commission in Brussels.
Patriarch Theodore welcomed warlmy the Commissioner and spoke of their friendship since Dimitris Avramopoulos was mayor of Athens and then minister and now Commissioner. Then the Patriarch offered him the special edition on the historical seat of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. The European Commissioner, Dimitris Avramopoulos, warmly thanked the Patriarch and promised to visit the seat of the Patriarchate in Alexandria on his next trip.
Finally, it should be noted that the Greek Commissioner is expected today to meet President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
