Turkish opposition criticizes Egypt policy

IYI Party head questions 'time lost and opportunities passed' between Turkey and Egypt, speaking to party's lawmakers

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - A Turkish opposition party leader on Wednesday criticized the government's Egypt policy.

"Why did the Turkish president [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] get angry with Egypt, why is he making peace right now? [...] Who will account for the time lost and opportunities passed [between Turkey and Egypt]?" Meral Aksener, the head of the Good (IYI) Party, asked in her party's parliamentary group.

Underlining that IYI Party "surely" wants Turkey to establish healthy and stable relations with all countries, Aksener said: "We surely question the reasoning of the policy that isolated Turkey in the Middle East, wasted investments of billions of [Turkish] liras," she said.

"This is the responsibility given to us by our nation," she added.

After years of disrupted ties, Ankara announced on Friday that the two countries have resumed "diplomatic-level contacts."

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said they had contacts at both the level of intelligence and foreign ministries with Egypt.

Kaynak: