Second round of talks between Turkey, Egypt

Photo: AA

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The second round of political consultations between Turkey and Egypt began in the capital Ankara today (September 7).

Turkey's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sedat Önal and his counterpart Hamdi Sanad Loza are leading their respective delegations, said a ministry statement.

Noting that bilateral matters were addressed during the first day of talks, the statement said, the delegations are expected to exchange views on regional matters on the second day of talks tomorrow.

"The parties aim to advance and normalize relations on the basis of mutual benefit," it added.

On May 5, a delegation from Turkey headed by Önal visited Cairo at Egypt's invitation. At the end of the visit, the two countries issued a joint statement describing the exploratory round of bilateral talks between them as "frank and in-depth."

Both Cairo and Ankara have shown positive signs in recent months, including with statements by Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on the possibility of the two countries negotiating to demarcate their maritime borders in the Eastern Mediterranean.

On May 7, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced the start of a new phase in relations with Egypt, stressing that the talks would continue, develop and expand.

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Relations between the two countries have been strained since 2013 when Egypt's army overthrew President Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group supported by Turkey. Cairo demands Ankara cease its support for the group's diaspora activities.

Meanwhile, Turkey's Embassy in Cairo and consulate in Alexandria, as well as the Egyptian Embassy in Ankara and consulate in İstanbul, have continued their usual activities. (PT/VK)