On Tuesday February 9, 2016 Participants at the first dialogue committee meeting between the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and the Egyptian Coptic Church issued a statement, paying tribute to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi efforts in maintaining peace between religions in the country and for his fight against extremism, and called for the restoration of direct flights between the Russian Federation and Egypt .
The Moscow Patriarchate’s official Web site added in the statement that a group of points were agreed and among those points, is that the two churches are in solidarity with Christians in Middle East countries , especially in Iraq, Syria and Libya, who are leaving a daily distress the statement also called to end Christians persecution and to protect Christian presence in the region.
The participants expressed their hope for a dialogue to be held between Egypt and Russia for direct air flights early restoration , which would contribute to the development of joint projects in the field of Pilgrimage between the two countries, participants also expressed their condolences to the families of those killed in Russian plane crash over the Sinai peninsula on October 31, 2015.
