Turkey Says to Send Delegation to Egypt in May

World 02:22 PM - 2021-04-15

Photo Credit: REUTERS

A Turkish delegation will visit Egypt next month as part of Ankara's efforts to mend ties, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday.

 

"Egypt invited a delegation from Turkey. The delegation will go in early May," Cavusoglu told the private NTV broadcaster.

 

"We will discuss openly how to normalize relations."

 

Turkey and Egypt froze ties after the 2013 overthrow of ex-president Mohamed Morsi, who forged close ties with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

 

That year, both countries expelled each others' ambassadors and Cairo had then declared the Turkish envoy "persona non grata."

 

But Turkish officials last month said Ankara had established the first diplomatic contacts with Cairo since 2013.

 

Cavusoglu on Thursday said the first delegation talks would be at the level of deputy foreign ministers, ahead of a contact between the ministers.

 

"I hope we will all together further improve relations," he said.

 

He added that a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry would take place after those talks.

 

 

PUKmedia / Asharq Al-Awsat