Egypt’s FM heads to Turkey amid expectation of appointing ambassadors in both countries

CAIRO – 13 APRIL 2023: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shokry will arrive in Turkey on Thursday, fulfilling the invitation of counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to continue talks on the normalization of relations between the two countries, with the possibility of returning their ambassadors.

The meeting is expected to build upon the outcomes of the Turkish minister's visit to Egypt in March, as well as tackle regional and international issues of mutual concern.

"It is time to take concrete steps. During Shoukry's visit, we can take steps to appoint ambassadors,” Çavuşoğlu was quoted as saying in an interview with A Haber T.V. on April 10.

Both countries downgraded their diplomatic ties and expelled the ambassadors in 2013 after Turkey slammed Egypt for ousting the pro-Muslim Brotherhood late President Mohamed Morsi.

Shoukry visited Turkey on February 27 to show solidarity with Ankara amid the earthquake disaster that hit southern Turkey and northwest Syria and claimed the lives of more than 50,000 people.

On March 18, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu revealed moves to upgrade diplomatic representation between the two countries, suggesting that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during the coming period, during a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo.