Egypt has succeeded during past 6 years in managing its international relations within framework of partnership
Turkey’s retreat from all hostile stances towards Egypt, and its relentless pursuit of restoring its relationship with Cairo, is clear evidence of the validity and strength of the Egyptian position.
This adheres to all historical and security constants in the face of a conspiracy led by Ankara, with Arab and regional parties, to undermine this country.
This retreat reveals the ignorance of some parties who believed, even for a moment, that Egypt, the maker of history, could be penetrated or even marginalised to undermine its pioneering role in the region.
It stressed that the people’s solidarity with its political leadership, army, and police was the safety shield for this country. It presented an epic that history will stand in front of for a long time, to study and learn how to confront and bring down conspiracies.
I am confident that the Egyptian political and diplomatic leadership will restore matters to normal concerning the Turkish file. However, there will also be demands from Cairo for Ankara to pay the bill for the sabotage and destructive attempts that targeted Egypt’s security, and caused dozens of martyrs in the army and the police.
Egyptian diplomacy has firm principles about supporting stability, security, and sovereignty, based on the principles of parity, commitment, mutual respect, and non-interference in its internal affairs.
According to these principles, Egypt has succeeded during the past six years in managing its international relations within the framework of partnership, supporting the will of the people, and supporting peaceful political solutions to the disputed issues.
This enabled it to regain its position and pivotal role in the region and the world in a way that contributed to achieving national security goals and supporting Egypt’s military and economic capabilities.
The Egyptian administration adheres to the principles of international law, respecting covenants and charters, supporting the role of international organisations and strengthening solidarity between states, as well as confronting terrorism and fighting extremist ideology.
Therefore, the return of relations between the Arab Quartet, which includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, with Qatar and Turkey, will be according to regional variables and the Quartet’s vision of how to deal with that conditional return.
Since the beginning of the crisis more than six years ago, the Arab Quartet has identified the only path for the possible return to normal relations with Qatar and Turkey. This is to stop supporting and financing terrorist networks in the region and the world, and not to interfere in the internal affairs of the countries of the region. This is in addition to re-engaging in the Arab ranks, and announcing commitment to joint Arab action on various regional and international issues.
This is indeed what we should see on the ground, and it must also be proven through a careful process of monitoring the actions of these rogue states.
Dr Hatem Sadek: Professor at Helwan University
