Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç called for establishing relations with Egypt on intact grounds.
The remarks were made during a televised interview with Arınç on Turkish Al Jazeera Channel, which was reported by Anadolu News Agency Monday.
He noted that Turkey’s reaction regarding “the military coup in Egypt” may be different in terms of democracy and Egypt has witnessed a transitional phase“.
Arınç, however, added that so far Turkey “doesn’t accept” the overthrow of an elected person and government by “a coup”. He added that in terms of foreign policy, Turkey “needs good friendly relations based on mutual understanding, particularly with Egypt and the Gulf States”.
He further noted that Turkey “has long-standing and deep historical ties with Gulf states”.
Egypt is seeking reconciliation with Qatar, brokered by Saudi Arabia, where President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi received, earlier this week, met with Qatari diplomatic envoy Sheikh Mohamed Bin Abdul Rahman. The visit came amid efforts to restore deteriorated diplomatic ties with Qatar.
Qatar and Turkey were both against the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
Ties between Egypt and Qatar have been strained since then, resulting in the withdrawal of ambassadors both countries.
Turkey, on the other hand, has reiterated its opposition to the current Egyptian government which rendered relations between Egypt and Turkey to be on a brink.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly made comments on Egypt’s internal affairs which Egypt described as “flagrant intervention”.
The latest of these comments came during a joint press conference between Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Erdogan said, during the press conference, that globally “putschists” come to power with high voters’ turnout, and that in Egypt “military putschists” came to power using anti-democratic ways. He added that they “have now acquired legitimacy and now leading Egypt”.
During the World Economic Forum in September held in Istanbul, Erdogan questioned the legitimacy of the Egyptian government. Egypt responded that Erdogan “is not in a position to give lessons to others about democracy and respect for human rights and appoint himself as the guardian of them”.
Erdogan also made similar comments in the 69th session of the UN General Assembly in September and Egyptian Foreign Ministry accused him as well of “spreading lies and fabrication”.
