Turkey, Egypt held first diplomatic contact since 2013
Turkey and Egypt have had their first diplomatic contact since breaking off relations in 2013, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Al Jazeera reported.
“We have had contacts both at the level of intelligence and foreign ministries with Egypt. Diplomatic-level contacts have started,” the source quoted Cavusoglu as saying on Friday.The Turkish minister also noted that a lack of trust was normal at the early stages of talks, and that neither side put forward preconditions.
“For this reason, negotiations are taking place and continuing under a certain strategy, road map,” he said.
The source reminds that ties between Egypt and Turkey deteriorated after a military coup spearheaded by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi removed the Ankara-backed President Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Turkey and Egypt then expelled each others’ ambassadors and downgraded their relations.