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In less than a week, 3 Turkish officials spoke positively about Egypt, indicating Ankara’s desire to achieve reconciliation with Cairo and return to normal relations between the two countries, to end a dispute that has lasted for more than 8 years.
However, the repeated Turkish statements wishing for reconciliation were met by Egypt with silence and did not comment on them۔
Turkish political analyst Ahmed Oisal, director of the Orsam Center for Middle East Studies, said that the Turkish statements came to encourage Cairo to achieve cooperation between the two countries in a way that serves their common interests in the Mediterranean region. Oriental.
Uesal, a professor at Istanbul University, said in an interview with the Al-Hurra channel that positive messages were exchanged between the two sides, stating that “Egypt respects the borders of the Turkish continental shelf when it explores oil in the eastern Mediterranean.”
On February 18, Egypt announced the launch of the first global oil and natural gas exploration and exploitation tender for the year 2021, to cover 24 exploration areas in the Gulf of Suez, Western Sahara and the eastern and western Mediterranean, in those that took into account the dispute over Turkish rights in the eastern Mediterranean.
On the other hand, Dr. Abdel Moneim Said, a member of the Egyptian Senate, believes that the Egyptian silence towards these statements means that there are deficient issues in the speech of Turkish officials on the disputed issues between the two countries that need to be completed. .
Speaking to Al-Hurra, Saeed added that Egypt believes that there are some conditions that need to be changed by the Turkish side regarding the Eastern Mediterranean and Libyan archives.
Turkish statements
On Monday, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said in an interview with Bloomberg: “A new chapter may be opened in our relationship with Egypt and the Gulf states to help with regional peace and stability.”
“Egypt is an important country in the Arab world, and it remains the mind of the Arab world, and it is the heart of the Arab world,” he added. “We are interested in talking to Egypt about maritime issues in the eastern Mediterranean.” , in addition to other issues in Libya, the peace process and the Palestinians. “
He indicated that Cairo and Ankara could address a number of issues that would help reduce tensions and achieve regional stability from North Africa to the eastern Mediterranean.
And earlier this week, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Egypt’s observance of the Turkish continental shelf during energy exploration work in the eastern Mediterranean is a very important advance.
Akar stressed that Ankara expects Cairo to continue, respecting the Turkish continental shelf, in exploration activities. He added: “We have common historical and cultural values with Egypt, and by activating these values, we see the possibility of various developments in the coming days.”
Last Wednesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Turkey and Egypt could negotiate the demarcation of the borders in the eastern Mediterranean, if circumstances permit.
Very positive
Turkish political analyst Islam Ozkan stated that the Turkish statements are very positive, and indicate that there will be convergence and improvement in relations between the two countries.
Speaking to the Al-Hurra channel, Ozca added that Egypt is more interested in improving relations between the two countries, noting that “Cairo has changed its position by taking into account Turkish interests in the eastern Mediterranean, and that Turkey has responded to this. change. “
Since 2013, relations between the two countries have taken a new turn, due to Ankara’s refusal to dismiss former Brotherhood president Mohamed Morsi from the Egyptian army and arrest the group’s leaders, and as a result, the relations between the two countries were cut off, and Erdogan refused to recognize the new Egyptian regime represented by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The dispute escalated due to the position of the two countries on a number of issues, the most important of which is the distribution of wealth in the eastern Mediterranean and Egypt’s participation in the negotiations on the division of the maritime borders with Cyprus. and Greece without the presence. of Turkey.
Last August, Egypt signed an agreement to demarcate maritime borders with Cyprus and Greece, but removed the controversial area from the borders of the island of Kastelorizo, which Turkey insists is within its maritime borders, while Greece insists on the dependence of the island and its economic zone on it, as reported by Bloomberg.
The escalation between the two countries increased, reaching the limit of talking about the possibility of a military confrontation, after Ankara signed an agreement to demarcate the maritime borders with the Government of National Accord, and intervened in Libya to help it face the Haftar-backed forces. for Egypt.
However, in recent months, the escalation between the two countries slowed and talks began, especially with requests from the Turkish government for Cairo to negotiate the demarcation of the maritime borders.
Convergence occurs
Oaisal believes that reconciliation and dialogue between the two countries can occur in the medium term, indicating that common interests between the two countries can override any political dispute.
Ozkan explained that these statements and the developments in the relationships were not immediate. Rather, the negotiations between the two countries have been going on for more than two years, indicating that the return of relations to before 2013 will not take place in days or weeks, but will take a long time.
Last September, Turkish political analyst and writer Hamzah Tekin, close to the ruling authority in Turkey, and another Turkish political analyst, Firas Radwan, revealed to Al-Hurra’s website confirmed information that they have pointing to Egyptian-Turkish. meetings, at the intelligence level, on the situation in Libya, which Egypt did not deny.
Towards “reconciliation” with Turkey … Egypt is the “most difficult expedient” and Erdogan may sacrifice the eastern Mediterranean
After a month of a massive campaign broadcast on social media in Saudi Arabia, involving prominent figures from the Kingdom, to boycott Turkish products, Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, gave an interview on the He said that Riad has “good and wonderful” relations with Ankara.
A member of the Egyptian Senate stated that he did not rule out a rapprochement between the two countries, indicating that the general situation in the Middle East is witnessing relative calm.
According to Greek media, Egypt opened the door to an understanding with Turkey on the eastern Mediterranean, and claimed that Athens had received information about the imminence of Egypt reaching an agreement with Turkey on the demarcation of its maritime borders, and that this agreement would harm . Greek interests in the future.
Saeed stressed that Ankara’s desire to reconcile with Egypt is an attempt to reduce the percentage of its hostility with the countries of the region, especially after the growing dispute between it and the European Union and NATO over its confrontation with Greece over the demarcation of the territory. maritime borders, in addition to the deterioration of its economy and the collapse of the Turkish currency.
He noted that despite the disagreement between the two countries, but on the side of economic relations and investments between the two countries, this dispute and economic relations continued between them.
Despite the disagreement between the two countries, the volume of exports to Turkey in 2018 reached $ 2.2 billion, and the volume of Egypt’s imports from Turkey increased by 29 percent in 2018 to reach about $ 3 billion, compared to $ 2.3 billion in 2017.
The trade balance between the two countries increased by 20 percent, topping $ 5.2 billion in 2018, compared to 4.38 billion in 2017.
Show goodwill
These Turkish statements were not the first of their kind. Last December, the Turkish Foreign Minister confirmed that his country and Egypt are seeking a roadmap regarding their bilateral relationship, and indicated that communication with Egypt at the intelligence level continues to strengthen relations, and that the dialogue is based on the level of the two foreign ministries and affirmed that “communication between the two countries is also carried out through their representatives in Ankara and Cairo.”
Last August, the Turkish president affirmed his country’s readiness for dialogue with Egypt.
Cairo responded that it “needs actions and policies to start a new page.”
As for what Cairo wants from Ankara, Saeed stressed the need for Ankara to start withdrawing Syrian mercenaries from Libya, to show its goodwill for reconciliation with Egypt. Regarding the file of the Brotherhood’s presence in Istanbul, Saeed said that he will be present in the negotiations between the two countries, but it will not be a major obstacle, and that progress in it is linked to progress in other files, as happened. . with Qatar.
Saeed added that Turkey wants to be present in the border demarcation negotiations with Egypt, which Cairo rejects before signing the Law of the Sea, the international legal basis for any negotiation process.
While Özcans indicated that movements on the ground to show goodwill should be reciprocal of the two sides, and this could be achieved through the development of economic relations and the achievement of strategic and political cooperation in Libya.
