FM Fidan holds joint press conference with Egyptian counterpart amid Gaza crisis

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry's arrival in Türkiye marks a significant step in the ongoing normalization process between Ankara and Cairo. Following a meeting with Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul, both ministers issued a joint statement addressing regional tensions, particularly concerning Iran-Israel relations.

Shoukry emphasized the necessity for restraint from both Iran and Israel, underscoring the potential dangers of further military escalation in the region. Minister Fidan echoed these concerns, highlighting the unresolved crisis in Gaza as a central issue contributing to ongoing tensions.

The meeting between Shoukry and Fidan follows President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's historic visit to Egypt earlier this year, signaling a thaw in relations between the two countries after a 12-year hiatus. During their discussions, the ministers reaffirmed the importance of the burgeoning partnership between Türkiye and Egypt, particularly in their joint efforts to provide assistance to Gaza via the Rafah border.

In addition to addressing immediate regional concerns, the ministers also emphasized the broader implications of the Israel-Palestine conflict, stressing the urgent need for a two-state solution to prevent further escalation of hostilities. Minister Shoukry announced the upcoming visit of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to Türkiye, further underscoring the strengthening ties between the two nations.

Key points from Hakan Fidan's statements:

"Egyptian President el-Sissi's visit to Türkiye is on our agenda. Trade and economy constitute one of the strongest topics of our cooperation. We will also work together on Gaza. Egypt and Türkiye are two important brotherly countries at the opposite ends of the Mediterranean. We have a great potential for collaboration.

As Türkiye, we have been saying the same thing from the beginning if this crisis is not resolved and if Palestine does not receive the sovereignty it deserves, the conflict will continue to spread to other regions. The occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel and the support it receives from the West are among the main reasons for instability in the Middle East. Our priority should be ending the Israeli occupation and implementing the two-state solution.

We firmly believe that the sacrifice of (Palestinians) in Gaza will serve as a beacon of hope for all oppressed people striving to attain their rights. The events in Palestine have far-reaching effects in other regions, disrupting the flow of goods and impacting situations both in the East and the West."

"Other countries should not indulge in the luxury of thinking that these issues will only happen in the Middle East and will not affect us. Everything about Palestine has the potential to trigger global fault lines and does trigger them."

Responding to inquiries about the ramifications of the Iran-Israel tension for the region, Shoukry said: "We have consistently warned of the potential spread of this conflict," he remarked. "Moreover, as you're aware, it has disrupted maritime traffic in the Red Sea, with far-reaching global implications. The heightened military tensions between Iran and Israel are alarming. We have advocated for restraint, emphasizing that further military engagement must be averted at all costs. Our primary aim is to prevent any escalation and advocate for dialogue-based resolutions to all issues."

Source: Newsroom