Скачать или смотреть EGYPT: CAIRO: GOVERNMENT PLEDGE MONEY TO RENOVATE ANCIENT CHURCH

(27 Jul 1997) English/Nat
The Egyptian government has pledged (m) millions of dollars to renovate an ancient church which bureaucratic squabbles had left to rot for more than a decade.
The fourth century Hanging Church in Cairo has been severely damaged, first by a flood, and then by the 1992 earthquake.
While officials argued over who would pay for repair work, the popular Cairo tourist attraction has come perilously close to collapse.
It's a major victory for Egypt's Coptic Christian community, who for years have been pleading with the authorities to repair their church.
Under Egyptian law, Christians are only allowed to restore churches under the auspices of the government.
This ancient temple is known as the Hanging Church for its unusual foundations perched on top of ancient Roman columns.
But for years it was the church's fate which was hanging, as decay threatened to destroy the building used as a place of worship by generations of Coptic Christians.
Water from an underground spring and nearby sewage systems has flooded around the church, eroding its base.
The earthquake of 1992 did further damage, and now the church needs immediate, major restoration.
The Coptic Christian community fears the church could collapse.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"This water is still here for more than ten years and it is very dangerous for the building of the church".
SUPER CAPTION: Father Jaqoub Soliman The Hanging church priest
To keep the Hanging Church from becoming a falling one, government officials have just announced a multi-million dollar renovation plan.
Government officials shrug off accusations that they could have repaired the Church years ago at a fraction of the cost.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"A symbol of unity, a will from the government of Egypt to care and to do what must be done in an equal intentions."
SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Ali El Siman, president of the Committee of Dialogue and Islamic Relations at the High Islamic council
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Supreme council of antiquities are struggling since years in order to restore them, in order to bring them to what we call their -- not original shape -- but to protect them from being deteriorated because they were in a very bad shape."
SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Ali Hassan head of Supreme Council of Antiquities
Coptic Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt's 60 (m) million people, have long complained that their churches and monuments are not given the same attention as other monuments.
Government officials deny they favour one group over another -- and point to hundreds of Pharaonic and Islamic monuments which like the Hanging Church have been left to crumble.

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