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Turkey eyes Egypt alliance
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Sevil Küçükkoşum
ANKARA
Turkey is looking to develop greater economic and strategic ties with Egypt following the Ankara government’s decision last week to downgrade relations with Israel as part of the continuing conflict over the deadly Mavi Marmara raid in 2010.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to sign military and economic cooperation agreements
during a visit to Cairo next week as part of a strategic partnership agreement with Egypt.
“Along with regional issues, the talks in Cairo will focus on the establishment of a high-level cooperation council between the two countries, [as well as the] signing of a strategic cooperation accord,” a senior Turkish diplomat told the Hürriyet Daily News on Wednesday.
In the Cairo talks, Turkish officials will also discuss Ankara’s decision to increase the country’s naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean. Erdoğan will be accompanied on his trip by a number of ministers, including Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan.
The prime minister voiced his intention to visit Gaza following his visit to Egypt, but it remains unclear if he will be able to cross into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip over Israeli objections. Erdoğan pledged to visit Gaza in reaction to Israel.
Erdoğan also plans to extend his trip with visits to other countries affected by the “Arab Spring” of opposition protests and revolts, including Libya and Tunisia. “The prime minister’s trip to Arab Spring countries is a sign of the highest level of [Turkish] support for them,” the senior Turkish diplomat said. Members of the Cabinet met at the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday to coordinate next week’s trip. Davutoğlu meanwhile held talks by phone with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and Deputy Iraqi President Tariq Hashimi late Tuesday. Meanwhile, Davutoğlu held talks by phone with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and Deputy Iraqi President Tariq Hashimi late Tuesday.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.p...nce-2011-09-07
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Sevil Küçükkoşum
ANKARA
Turkey is looking to develop greater economic and strategic ties with Egypt following the Ankara government’s decision last week to downgrade relations with Israel as part of the continuing conflict over the deadly Mavi Marmara raid in 2010.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to sign military and economic cooperation agreements
during a visit to Cairo next week as part of a strategic partnership agreement with Egypt.
“Along with regional issues, the talks in Cairo will focus on the establishment of a high-level cooperation council between the two countries, [as well as the] signing of a strategic cooperation accord,” a senior Turkish diplomat told the Hürriyet Daily News on Wednesday.
In the Cairo talks, Turkish officials will also discuss Ankara’s decision to increase the country’s naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean. Erdoğan will be accompanied on his trip by a number of ministers, including Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan.
The prime minister voiced his intention to visit Gaza following his visit to Egypt, but it remains unclear if he will be able to cross into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip over Israeli objections. Erdoğan pledged to visit Gaza in reaction to Israel.
Erdoğan also plans to extend his trip with visits to other countries affected by the “Arab Spring” of opposition protests and revolts, including Libya and Tunisia. “The prime minister’s trip to Arab Spring countries is a sign of the highest level of [Turkish] support for them,” the senior Turkish diplomat said. Members of the Cabinet met at the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday to coordinate next week’s trip. Davutoğlu meanwhile held talks by phone with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and Deputy Iraqi President Tariq Hashimi late Tuesday. Meanwhile, Davutoğlu held talks by phone with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and Deputy Iraqi President Tariq Hashimi late Tuesday.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.p...nce-2011-09-07
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