The Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, and his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, who is visiting Cairo, on Saturday, discussed the issue of fully restoring relations between the two countries, and confirmed that the ground is solid for the return of relations to normal.
Shoukry: Political will to “normalize relations”
Sameh Shoukry said at a joint press conference with Cavusoglu in Cairo that they discussed the possibility of the ambassadors returning.
- We seek to normalize relations with Turkey in all fields (…) Our discussions were transparent and clear, and there is a political will to launch a path for full normalization with Turkey.
- We discussed working to restore relations and restore ambassadors. We will come to it at the appropriate time according to the positive results it brings.
The Egyptian minister pointed out that there is agreement and coordination with Turkey on several regional issues.
For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that his visit was motivated by improving relations with Egypt, expressing his aspiration for his Egyptian counterpart to visit Turkey again.
- Shoukry made it clear that “the level of diplomatic relations with Egypt will be raised to the level of ambassadors as soon as possible,” expressing his “happiness for taking tangible steps towards normalizing relations with Egypt and cooperation between Cairo and Ankara.”
- The Turkish minister thanked Egypt for the assistance it provided to the victims of the earthquake disaster, noting that “relations with Egypt are historical and we have a common culture that we seek to strengthen.”
A meeting between Sisi and Erdogan
- “We are working to facilitate a meeting between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” Davutoglu said during the joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart.
He pointed out that the Egyptian and Turkish presidents pledged during their meeting in Doha on the sidelines of the 2022 World Cup to develop relations between the two countries.
First visit in 10 years
- Davutoglu’s visit to Cairo is the first by Turkey’s top diplomat in ten years.
- Sameh Shoukry visited Turkey last month to show solidarity with it after the devastating earthquakes that killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria.
