Istanbul, Turkey -Turkish and Egyptian ministrers will meet as part of a process to build relations, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said in comments broadcast on Sunday.
Erdogan and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi shook hands last week in Qatar, signalling a fresh beginning in their ties after years of tense relations between the two nations.
Speaking in a televised discussion programme, Erdogan said that he and Sisi had spoken for around half an hour to 45 minutes at the meeting on the margins of the World Cup in Qatar.
“We had narrowly focused talks with Mr. Sisi there and said now let’s have ministers coming and going at a low level. After that, let’s broaden and widen these talks,” Erdogan said.
He also hinted at a possibility of improving ties with rival Syria.
“Just as this business is now on track with Egypt, things may also get on track with Syria,” he said.
Relations between Ankara and Cairo have been strained ever since Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, who was firmly backed by Erdogan, was overthrown in 2013 by Sisi, then Egypt’s army chief.
