Turkey Announces ”New Phase” with Egypt

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that “a new stage has begun in relations with Egypt and there may be mutual visits and discussions in this regard”

Çavuşoğlu made the remarks while briefing reporters on Wednesday on the phone call he had made with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukri last Saturday.

“A Turkey-Egypt meeting is expected at the level of assistant foreign ministers, and work is under way to determine the date,” Çavuşoğlu said.

Cairo has previously commented on the phone call Shoukri received from his Turkish counterpart, saying it was being taken as part of “signs of the need to correct the course”.

“The conversation was part of humanitarian compliments to congratulate the month of Ramadan, and we must take them as part of the overall statements and signals that were issued by the Turkish side regarding the importance of Egypt and the need to correct the course,” Shoukri said Sunday evening.

The past period witnessed Turkish attempts to heal the rift in its relations with Egypt, which reached the point of boycotting after the 30 June 2013 revolution in Egypt and overthrowing the rule of the terrorist group of Brotherhood, which Ankara supported and hosted.

Last month, Turkey’s Foreign Minister announced the return of diplomatic contacts with Egypt without preconditions on both sides, and that these contacts are taking place “at the intelligence and Foreign Ministry levels.”

“At the time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also confirmed cooperation with Egypt in the areas of intelligence, diplomacy and economy.”

A few days ago, Turkey-based Brotherhood channels stopped their programs attacking the Egyptian regime.