By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL -On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was in Egypt for his second official visit in 12 years. Both countries aim is to expand bilateral ties and mutual interests. Erdogan arrived with a delegation that included First Lady, Emine Erdogan Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Treasury and Financial Minister Mehmet Simsek, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Health Minister Frahrettin Koca, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir, Trade Minister Omer Bolat, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun and Akif Cagatay Kilic, Erdogan’s chief adviser. The Turkish delegation will meet with Egyptian delegation counterparts for a series of meetings with bilateral and delegation level meetings taking place.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is hosting an official dinner in honor of the Turkish president’s visit which Erdogan will attend. The last visit Erdogan made to Egypt was in 2012 to meet al-Sisi for the first time. Since then, both countries have been working to expand and develop ties on many fronts while creating more fluid bilateral relations. The Turkish government has played a pivotal role in consultations with Egypt on the situation in Gaza as well as coordinating through the Egyptian border – the transfer of wounded Palestinians and those in need of dire medical attention. Turkiye is currently taking care of cancer patients and others from Palestine with urgent medical needs.
Photo : AA
