In a significant diplomatic move, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Istanbul on Saturday, April 20, during his current visit to Turkey.
This meeting marks a high point in political exchanges between the two nations following over a decade of strained relations.
Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the spokesperson and Director of Public Diplomacy at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Minister Shoukry conveyed greetings from the President of Egypt to President Erdogan.
He praised the renewal of bilateral relations which had culminated in Erdogan’s visit to Egypt on February 14, 2024. This visit notably led to the signing of a declaration to establish a Joint Strategic Cooperation Council at the presidential level.
President Erdogan reciprocated with greetings and expressed his anticipation for hosting the Egyptian leader in Turkey soon.
He emphasized the significant role of Egyptian-Turkish cooperation, both bilaterally in enhancing joint cooperation across various levels and in coordinating positions on various regional and international issues.
Ambassador Abu Zeid revealed that Minister Shoukry’s visit aims to prepare for the upcoming visit of the Egyptian President to Turkey.
This visit is expected to coincide with the inaugural meeting of the high-level Strategic Council between the two countries. Shoukry also highlighted the importance of boosting the bilateral trade volume, which reached nearly $7 billion in 2023, with aspirations to increase it to $15 billion in the coming years.
The discussions also touched upon several regional and international files, notably the ongoing crisis in Gaza. The ministers underscored the urgency of achieving an immediate and permanent ceasefire and ensuring the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.
They also warned against any military operations in Palestinian Rafah, which could have severe implications. The foreign ministers lauded the humanitarian assistance provided by Turkey to Palestine, in cooperation with Egypt, and stressed the importance of cooperation in achieving Palestinian reconciliation and resuming the peace process toward establishing a viable Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Furthermore, both parties affirmed the importance of coordination between Egypt and Turkey regarding the situation in Libya to implement relevant international resolutions and exchanged views on developments related to the Syrian crisis.
Minister Shoukry reaffirmed Egypt’s stance on achieving a political settlement in Syria as per UN Resolution 2254, ensuring Syria's sovereignty, security, and stability.
Minister Shoukry also outlined Egypt’s efforts to restore stability in Sudan to prevent the collapse of the state and its institutions, both bilaterally and through regional and international initiatives.
He was keen to hear Turkey’s perspective on the developments in Sudan and its role in the crisis management efforts.
Ambassador Abu Zeid added that Shoukry’s meeting with President Erdogan also covered the benefits of increased coordination on various African issues, including the Nile water disputes, the Ethiopian dam issue, and the situations in the Horn of Africa, Somalia, and the Sahel and Sahara regions.
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