UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY PRESIDENT ERDOGAN
By Mumin Altas
CAIRO, Egypt (AA) – Türkiye and Egypt are working together on efforts for peace in Gaza as well as stability in neighboring Libya, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi after bilateral and delegation-level talks and an agreement signing ceremony, Erdogan said Türkiye is working with Egypt on initiatives aimed at making peace in Gaza possible and would continue those efforts.
He stressed that despite a months-long ceasefire, the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza is still continuing.
He said more than 500 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since last Oct. 11 and condemned attempts to undermine the Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration from around the same time. Türkiye and Egypt will continue working together on efforts to secure lasting peace in Gaza and contribute to reconstruction in the territory, he said.
He praised Cairo’s efforts to get humanitarian aid sent by Türkiye into the hands of Palestinians in Gaza.
“Türkiye is working with Egypt on initiatives to make peace in Gaza possible and will continue these efforts,” Erdogan said.
- Regional issues
The Turkish president said the talks also covered Libya, Sudan, and developments in the Horn of Africa, including Somalia.
Erdogan said Ankara and Cairo share the goal of preserving neighboring Libya’s unity and territorial integrity and agreed to support political processes led and owned by Libyans.
“Our shared objective with Egypt continues to be the preservation of Libya’s unity and territorial integrity to establish lasting stability in the country,” he added.
On the situation in Egypt’s southern neighbor Sudan, Erdogan said Ankara wants a ceasefire in Sudan, then sustainable peace in the country.
Erdogan also rejected Israel’s decision to recognize the breakaway region of Somaliland, saying it seeks to harm Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. "Steps concerning the future of Somalia and Somaliland should reflect the will of all Somalis," he said.
On Syria, the president underlined that a country whose territorial integrity and political unity are preserved and ensured would benefit the entire region. He said Türkiye supports the “major transformation” underway in Syria and will continue to do so, welcoming Egypt’s statements in favor of Syria’s unity.
On rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, Erdogan said: “Resolving issues with Iran, including the nuclear issue, through diplomatic means is the most appropriate method."
- Bilateral ties
Erdogan said he was pleased to be in Cairo for the second meeting of the countries’ High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, noting that the first session was held in Ankara in 2024.
He said the two countries had intensified contacts over the past 16 months, with multiple reciprocal visits by Cabinet ministers and other senior officials. The joint declaration and other documents signed during the visit will further strengthen the legal framework of bilateral relations, he added.
Egypt remains Türkiye’s largest trade partner in Africa, Erdogan said, adding that the bilateral trade volume, which has hovered between $8 billion and $9 billion in recent years, is targeted to reach $15 billion. Turkish investments in Egypt are approaching $4 billion, he noted.
Erdogan said the two sides are seeking to develop joint projects in energy and transportation and that improving relations had also boosted tourism, with more than half a million tourists traveling between the two countries last year. He expressed hope that this figure would double in the days ahead.
“Türkiye wants to enhance its cooperation with Egypt in the fields of maritime trade and transportation, freedom of navigation, and maritime security,” he said.
Erdogan thanked Sisi and Egyptian officials for their hospitality and expressed hope that decisions taken during the meetings would contribute to peace, prosperity and stability in both countries and the region at large.