Turkey, Egypt agree to normalize diplomatic relations

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has said it is ready to normalize diplomatic relations with Egypt.

According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the two sides addressed “bilateral issues as well as a number of regional topics, such as the situation in Libya, Syria, Palestine and the Eastern Mediterranean.”

According to Daily Sabah reports, the second round of consultations between the delegations was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Önal and his Egyptian counterpart Hamdi Sanad Loza.

It added that the two sides agreed to continue these consultations, confirming their desire to make progress in areas under discussion.

Earlier this year, Turkey said it had resumed diplomatic contact with Egypt and wanted to improve cooperation after years of tensions that began with the disruption of relations in 2013.

In May, a delegation of senior Turkish officials traveled to Egypt for an official visit – the first since 2013 – to discuss normalizing diplomatic relations amid efforts by the two countries to improve bilateral ties that deteriorated following the Arab Spring.

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Tuesday that after the talks “we may take the necessary steps to appoint mutual ambassadors.”