(MENAFN) Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, has announced that Ankara and Cairo have agreed to enhance their diplomatic relations, which have remained strained since the 2013 military coup in Egypt. Cavusoglu revealed that he had met with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, in Cairo to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international issues. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Cavusoglu stated that they had evaluated the next steps to be taken towards improving their diplomatic ties. He also extended an invitation to Shoukry to visit Ankara, especially during the month of Ramadan.
The meeting between Cavusoglu and Shoukry marks the first visit by a Turkish foreign minister to Egypt in 11 years. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been limited to charges d'affaires on both sides since the military coup in Egypt, which resulted in the ousting of the late President Mohammed Morsi. The coup was a significant point of contention between the two countries, leading to a breakdown in their diplomatic relations.
Cavusoglu's invitation to Shoukry to visit Ankara is seen as a positive step towards the normalization of relations between the two countries. However, both sides have yet to appoint ambassadors, with Cavusoglu explaining that it was previously agreed that the announcement of such appointments would only be made if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, got together.
The move towards improving diplomatic ties between Türkiye and Egypt is expected to have positive implications for the wider region. As both countries are regional powers, their cooperation could help to resolve regional conflicts and promote stability in the Middle East. Overall, the meeting between Cavusoglu and Shoukry represents a significant step towards the normalization of relations between Turkey and Egypt.
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