NEW YORK, Sept 22, 2018 (MENA) - Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria and Patriarch of St. Mark Diocese said the welcoming of the Coptic Orthodox Church to the visit of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to the United States to participate in annual United Nations meetings is a celebration of Egypt. During the pope's meeting with representatives of the church in Staten Island, New York, he said Egypt is trying to recover from setbacks that occurred over the past years and exerting its utmost to achieve development in all fields. He noted that the president and government are making uphill efforts to achieve a renaissance in Egypt, underlining that Egypt is currently building its own capabilities and shoring up its economy. He warned that Egypt is targeted by a smear campaign that aims to spread false news about it to harm its people. Pope Tawadros arrived in the US on Thursday, 13 September, on a month-long pastoral visit. It is his second pastoral visit since becoming pope to visit parishes and dioceses of the North Eastern United States. The first papal pastoral visit to the US was in 2015. He then visited the parishes in the southern part of the US and attended celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the consecration of the south US Coptic diocese. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi arrived in New York late Friday to attend the 73rd United Nations General Assembly meetings. The president will deliver Egypt's speech at the UNGA meetings taking up the Egyptian vision for enhancing the role of the UN and Egypt's stances on regional and international conditions along with its efforts for fighting international terrorism. The schedule of the president in New York includes holding several bilateral meetings with heads of state and government, who are taking part in the UN meetings. The talks will also take up means of boosting relations between Egypt and other world countries. Sisi will also chair the high-level meeting of the Group of 77 that will be held under Egypt for the third time in its history.
