Turkish Ambassador Outlines Vision for Regional Stability, Stresses Importance of Egypt-Turkey Co-op

For 60 years, Syria has been governed in a manner that has been out of touch with the social realities, sentiments, and preferences of its people, under the rule of a family regime more concerned with its own interests than the welfare of the population. 

Now, there is a historic opportunity to form an inclusive government that aligns with the desires, preferences, and aspirations of the majority of the Syrian people. With this regime change in Syria, the region has a chance to achieve lasting stability by establishing such a government.

Turks and Arabs can now prioritize stability and development in the region by safeguarding their affairs, relations, sovereignty, and unity.

To effectively assess this opportunity, Arab countries, including Turkey and Egypt, can support this process of transition and change. This process can be completed and secured through providing support, rather than isolating the transitional administration.

This assessment was made by the Turkish Ambassador to Cairo, Saleh Mutlu Şen, during his evaluation of 2024 in the context of Turkish-Egyptian relations and regional and global developments.

Şen stated that historic progress was made in Turkish-Egyptian relations over the past year of 2024, explaining that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid a historic visit to Cairo on February 14, and President Sisi made a historic visit to Ankara on September 4. Finally, on December 19, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid a historic visit to Cairo and visited the new administrative capital at a critical time, coinciding with the Group of Eight Summit.

Moreover, Tutkish Ambassador stated that during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit on February 14, the Strategic Cooperation Council between Turkey and Egypt was established, and President Sisi chaired the first meeting of this council on September 4 with the participation of many ministers.

Additionally, Şen mentioned that 17 agreements were signed at the Council meeting in Ankara, and said that most of these agreements were about trade, economic relations, and joint development activities.

Turkish ambassador also noted that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited only one country twice in 2024, and that was Egypt. He said that this situation alone reveals the great importance that Turkey attaches to Egypt.

 Şen stated that when the leaders of countries choose to participate in a summit within the framework of an international organization, this has a meaning in itself. He also said that President Erdoğan's participation in the Group of Eight Summit is also directly related to his close dialogue with President Sisi and is linked to the importance he attaches to him and his interest in Egypt.

Therefore, Turkish ambassador said that participation in the Group of Eight Summit cannot be considered merely as participation in an international meeting, but rather it is an important step related to the development of bilateral relations.

He mentioned that the fact that this visit came after the Syrian crisis provided an opportunity for an in-depth exchange of views between the two countries on regional issues. During the summit, meetings were held between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Sisi, and between Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdel Atti, and special bilateral meetings continued for about an hour, indicating the importance attached to in-depth consultation and coordination on regional issues and bilateral relations between the two countries.

He pointed out that Turkey is interested in Egypt's views and positions on regional issues, and that it consults with Egypt on every regional issue and attaches importance to taking Egypt's position into consideration.

In addition, Şen pointed out that Egypt and Cairo are among the most important diplomatic centers in the world, noting that it may sometimes be difficult for diplomats to follow up on meetings, visits, negotiations, and political and diplomatic developments in Cairo due to this speed and density.

In this context, he said that during the Group of Eight Summit, many countries had the opportunity to exchange views on Syria in Egypt, taking advantage of these diverse opportunities.

Şen said that the significance and message of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Egypt should be read very carefully. In this sense, Turkey fully supports Egypt's security, stability, and development under the leadership of President Sisi. Turkey and Egypt, under the leadership of President Sisi and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will stand together and move forward together.

Turkish Ambassador mentioned that the war in Gaza is unfortunately continuing in 2024, and mentioned that Turkey, in cooperation with the Egyptian authorities, continued to send humanitarian aid on a large scale until May, that is, until the Israeli attack on the Rafah border crossing. But Israel closed the crossing, and he said that this aid largely stopped as a result of the occupation and destruction of the crossing by the Israeli armed forces.

Furthermore, Şen said that there is no alternative to Egypt's path regarding humanitarian aid, recovery, and reconstruction, so Israel must hand over the crossing to the Palestinians and withdraw from the Rafah border crossing, and withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor, and start humanitarian aid and human crossings under Palestinian control at the Rafah border crossing as soon as possible.

He also affirmed that Turkey fully supports Egypt's position on both the Rafah border crossing and the Philadelphi corridor. On the other hand, Ambassador Saleh Mutlu Şen pointed out that Egypt is at the forefront and is making sincere efforts to cease fire in cooperation with Qatar in 2024, and said that the Israeli administration, especially Prime Minister Netanyahu, is setting new conditions when negotiations advance in an attempt to continue the war. And because of this, no results have been achieved in the negotiations. Despite this, Egypt and Qatar continue their efforts with determination.

Şen said that Turkey has submitted the necessary proposals and recommendations to all parties regarding a ceasefire, and hopes that a ceasefire can be reached as soon as possible.

He said that Israel must withdraw completely from Gaza, and not only from the Rafah border crossing and the Philadelphi corridor, but also the international community must gather humanitarian aid immediately and start recovery and reconstruction activities.

Turkish Ambassador mentioned that they are well aware that Israel's real intention is to make Gaza "uninhabitable" and force Palestinians to migrate voluntarily. He pointed out that this is known to the Egyptian authorities. He mentioned that Turkey, Egypt, and the international community should not allow Palestinians to migrate en masse by making Gaza "uninhabitable" and not allowing Gaza to be rebuilt.

Şen said that Turkey participated in the Gaza Humanitarian Aid Conference organized by Egypt in November with a large delegation and that this Egyptian initiative came at the very right time.

Turkish Ambassador mentioned that in order for the preparations for this humanitarian aid and recovery and reconstruction work to be successful, it is necessary to put pressure on Israel and all parties to ensure an unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible.

He also said that Turkey sends humanitarian aid mainly to Gaza and Syria, then to Somalia and Sudan. He mentioned that a large amount of humanitarian aid was sent to Sudan in the past period to Port Sudan. 

In addition, Şen pointed out that Turkish humanitarian relief organizations and technical assistance organizations have already started their activities in Syria. He affirmed that Turkey has hosted nearly 4 million Syrians for 10 years and that its aid to Syria and Syrians has made Turkey one of the world's leading countries in the field of humanitarian aid. When Syrian refugees return voluntarily and honorably to their country, Turkey will not leave them alone. He pointed out that one million Syrians live in Egypt.

In this context, Turkish Ambassador stated that Turkey and all Arab countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, should help the transitional administration established in Syria and improve the living conditions of their Syrian brothers who will return to their country from Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Iraq.

Moreover, he noted that the Syrian people have suffered enough, to the extent that they have become poor and displaced from their homes and forced to migrate abroad, and that from now on Syria will not tolerate any new conflict and instability, and therefore everyone should seize the opportunity of this new era.

Turkish Ambassador also stated that no terrorist organization, including ISIS and the PKK/YPG organization, should find a refuge in Syrian lands, and should not create terrorism against any country in the region and Syria's neighbors, and should under no circumstances cause instability in any other country.

In this context, he also affirmed that the unity of Syria and the integrity of its territory and its Arab character constitute red lines for Turkey.

Şen pointed out that two-thirds of Syrian territory is occupied by elements of the PKK/YPG separatist organization, which is in the hands of foreign terrorists.

He stated that the PKK/YPG regime, which wants to secede in northeastern Syria, is stealing natural gas and oil resources, which are Syria's only natural resources. He said that these foreign terrorists must leave Syria immediately, and that other YPG elements must immediately drop their weapons and surrender to the government.

Turkish Ambassador made statements about 2025, and mentioned that 2025 will mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between modern Turkey and modern Egypt. 

He mentioned that, as an embassy, they are planning to carry out religious and academic activities for many cultures on the centennial anniversary.

In conclusion, Şen affirmed that Turkey and Egypt, the two brotherly countries, will continue to work side by side and hand in hand on the path of security, peace, stability, and development in the coming period.