(DNE/ File Photo/ Mohamed Omar)
Turkey has reinstated their ambassador in Egypt, having recalled him on 15 August for consultations.
Turkish ambassador Huseyin Avni Botsali was expected to return to Cairo on Wednesday, according to AFP.
Badr Abdelatty, official spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday, “We first recalled our ambassador and they responded likewise. Now they have decided to send back their ambassador.”
The spokesperson said that Egypt is “yet to take a decision” on whether or not to send its ambassador back to Turkey, adding that he “will remain in Egypt until a decision is made.”
Relations between Egypt and Turkey have been strained since the ouster of Mohamed Morsi at the beginning of July. Turkey’s Islamist government was closely allied with the Morsi regime and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been vocal in his criticism of the current political climate in Egypt.
Erdoğan faced much criticism and condemnation over a comment he made in which he expressed his disappointment in Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb for favouring “leaders of the coup.” His statement was condemned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the presidency’s media advisor, the Council of Egyptian Churches, Egypt’s Catholic Church.
The Turkish Prime Minister also claimed last month that Israel was behind Morsi’s ouster.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, has warned Turkey to not involve itself in Egypt’s internal affairs several times.
Venezuela also decided to reinstate its ambassador to Egypt, who was also recalled back to the South American nation. As a result Egypt then delayed appointing a new ambassador to Venezuela. Abdelatty said, “When they learned of the situation in Egypt and that it was not a coup but the popular will of the people, the president reconsidered his position.” He added that the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro telephoned Minister of Foreign Affairs Nabil Fahmy on Tuesday to inform him of the decision and Fahmy said that Egypt would reciprocate.
