Turkish Parliament approved Friendship team with Egypt
On Wednesday, the Turkish parliament unanimously agreed a bill to form a parliamentary friendship group with Egypt. This actually came before of a programmed visit by a diplomatic delegation to Cairo to hold the first official gathering between representatives of both countries’ foreign ministries and discuss normalizing relations.
Recently, Ankara gave an order to Istanbul-based TV channels affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood to cease airing criticism and provocation against Egypt, President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and the government. Turkish officials asked that stations and media outlets commit to respecting the charters of journalistic ethics.
Furthermore, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) suggested reforming the parliamentary friendship group with Egypt that was annulled in 2013. The parliament also agreed the formation of a parliamentary friendship group with Libya. While, the Turkish opposition welcomed the recent steps, indicating that the deterioration of ties with Egypt posed a great menace to Turkey and its interests.
During the past eight years, opposition parties have frequently criticized Erdogan’s method for ties with Egypt and accused him of being in the side of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The visit of Cairo
On his part, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had earlier declared that a delegation from Ankara would visit Cairo in early May as part of efforts to mend bilateral relations.
The FM added that the first delegation discussions would be at the level of deputy foreign ministers, noting that it would be followed with a gathering with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry.
Erdogan’s spokesman stated that Turkish discussions with Egypt next week could forge renewed cooperation between the estranged regional powers and help efforts to cease the war in Libya.
Kalin declared on Tuesday that intelligence chiefs and foreign ministers of the two countries have been in contact, and a Turkish diplomatic mission would visit Egypt in early May, he also said: Given the realities on the ground I think it’s in the interests of both countries and the region to normalize relations with Egypt.
Kalin also said: Rapprochement with Egypt…will certainly help the security situation in Libya because we fully understand that Egypt has a long border with Libya and that may sometimes pose a security threat for Egypt. He indicated that Turkey would discuss security in Libya, where a United Nations-backed transitional government took over last month, with Egypt and other countries.
New period in relations with Egypt
Turkey declared the beginning of a new period in ties with Egypt including visits and reciprocal discussions that may lead to a deal on the nomination of ambassadors. For years, ties between Egypt and Turkey were stressed after the Egyptian army collapsed a Brotherhood president and Ankara welcomed the group. Ties were also stressed after Turkey’s military interference in Libya, and the matter of the gas deals in the eastern Mediterranean.
Otherwise, Cairo called again its ambassador to Ankara in 2013 after Turkey’s severe escalation against the Egyptian leadership. Turkey replied with the same move, and the diplomatic representation of the two countries was declined to the level of charge d’affaires, however; political tension did not affect economic and trade ties.
