Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas on Sunday visited Madaba and the site where Jesus Christ was baptised in the Jordan river; both of which are under the supervision of the Jerusalem Patriarchate. With his visit to the sites, Droutsas sought to signal Greeceās respect for the role and importance of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
The Greek government has made a major contribution toward the maintenance and improvement of the two sites, which are both tourist attractions of great historic interest. Among others, the Madaba archaeological park is exclusively funded by Greece with the sum of 487,000 euros for the construction of a hostel for pilgrims and for the maintenance of the Church of St. George dating back to the 6th century, also known as the Church of the Map.
The Minister additionally visited St. John the Baptist Monastery, which has received money from Greece to improve its grounds.
In statements, Droutsas said that he had deliberately begun his tour of the Middle East at a crucial āturning pointā in the course of the peace-making process in Jordan, because the countryās role and the contribution of the Jordanian monarch was fundamental to stability in the region.Ā āGreece also wants to contribute to peace and stability in the region,ā the Minister added.
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