Turkey soon to reset ties with Egypt: Turkish FM

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced on Wednesday that Turkey's relations with Egypt has entered a "new era", in the latest sign of attempts at rapprochement with Egypt, state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

AA quoted Cavusoglu as saying that a new phase has begun in relations between Turkey and Egypt and that there may be mutual visits and discussions in this context soon. He added that the appointment of a Turkish ambassador to Egypt is an issue that has not yet been discussed. Cairo called out Turkey to align its actions with Egyptian principles to normalise ties.

The two countries cut off ties after the 2013 coup of former Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi, who was supported by Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, followed by the expulsion of each countries' ambassadors in the same year.

The Turkish foreign minister took the occasion of Ramadan to talk to his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry to wish him for the holy month. For some time now, there have been references to the efforts of reconciliation and creating a favourable atmosphere for discussing the contentious issues between Cairo and Ankara.

Last month, the Egyptian foreign ministry had denied claims by the Turkish government that there has been resumption and restoration of ties with Cairo and Gulf states.