Military Chief of Staff Sami Anan met with a delegation of Coptic bishops on Wednesday at the Defense Ministry to discuss the community's problems. “The military council holds regular meetings with us to discuss certain problems we face,” said Morcos, the bishop of Shubra. “We discussed the Maspero incident and the unified law on places of worship and the prohibition of discrimination.” Anan reiterated the need for a civil and democratic state where all citizens are equal, regardless of their religions. “There is a solution for every problem, provided [there are] good intentions,” he said. Church sources also said Coptic Pope Shenouda III will not be able to visit Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb to congratulate him on the Eid. Shenouda has a cold, according to the sources, but will send a high-ranking envoy to represent him. The pope also canceled his weekly sermon. Translated from the Arabic Edition
