Turkey, Egypt to hold 'normalization' talks starting today

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A delegation of senior Foreign Ministry officials will pay a two-day visit to Egypt starting today (May 5), according to a statement by the ministry.

Political consultations between the countries will be held in Cairo under the chairpersonship of Sedat Onal, the deputy foreign minister, and Hamdi Sanad Loza, his counterpart from Egypt, the ministry said.

"These exploratory discussions will focus on necessary steps that may lead towards the normalization of relations between the two countries bilaterally and in the regional context," the statement said.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry also confirmed the talks. "The exploratory talks will focus on necessary steps that may lead to normalization of relations between the two countries at the bilateral and regional context," it said in a written statement.

On April 15, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu announced in a live broadcast that it was agreed that the channel first opened between Turkish and Egyptian intelligence would continue through the foreign ministries.

Çavuşoğlu said Egypt had extended an invitation to Turkey in early May, which is to be held at the deputy foreign minister-level.

After inter-delegations meeting, Çavuşoğlu said he could meet his Egyptian counterpart as well.

Turkey and Egypt have recently released statements on bilateral ties, suggesting an expected restoration in relations after more than seven years of political estrangement.

Relations between the two countries have been strained since 2013, when Egypt's army overthrew President Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood close to Turkey.

Ankara has refused to establish relations with the administration of Abdal Fattah al-Sisi while Cairo accused Turkey of offering protection for members of Muslim Brotherhood, which it considers a "terrorist" group. (EMK/VK)