Exploratory consultations on normalizing relations between Egypt, Turkey to continue

CAIRO – 9 September 2021: Egyptian and Turkish diplomats agreed Wednesday on continuing the exploratory consultations aimed at normalizing relations, which were severed in 2013 due to Turkey's support to the Muslim Brotherhood outlawed in Egypt.

The joint statement, issued by both parties, after the conclusion of the second round of exploratory consultations that was held on September 7-8 in Ankara, indicated that the negotiation teams discussed the statuses of Libya, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, and Eastern Mediterranean.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hamdy Loza and his Turkish counterpart Sedat Onal "asserted a desire to achieve progress over the discussed matters, and the need to take additional steps to facilitate the normalization of relations between both parties."

The first round of exploratory consultations was held in Cairo on May 5-6 as both sides discussed bilateral relations and their stances on the issues of Libya, Syria, and Iraq.

They also agreed on the necessity of achieving peace and security in the Middle East, and on evaluating the outcomes of the consultations to decide upon the steps that followed.