JOINT MEETING BY THE EMBASSY OF THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT AND ORSAM: EGYPT IN TRANSITION AND TURKEY-EGYPT RELATIONS IN NEW ERA

4 minute reading time

A workshop on “Egypt in Transition and Turkey-Egypt Relations in New Era” was organized by the collaboration of the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt and ORSAM at Vilayetler Evi on 4 June 2012, Monday between 9:30-16:30. The guests from Arab Republic of Egypt Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs and other distinguished guests discussed the current situation in Egypt after revolution and the relations between Turkey and Egypt. The opening speech of workshop that exist of three sections, was made by H.E. Mr. Yaşar Yakış, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, President of STRATIM, H.E. Mr. Abderahman Salaheldin, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Republic of Turkey and Asst. Prof. Dr. Serhat Erkmen, ORSAM Middle East Advisor, Ahi Evran University Department of International Relations.

In The first section that chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özlem Tür, the developments in the transition period were discussed in details. H.E. Ambassador Fathy El Shazly, National Project Director at Egyptian Ministry of International Cooperation, Former Ambassador of Egypt to Turkey, compared the Islamic identity in Turkey and Egypt, touched upon the approach to secularism in both country and assessed the rise of Salafi movements in the country’s politics. while he evaluated the Turkish experiences and its positive points, on the other hand he mentioned the cultural pollution but he expressed his strong belief on moderation, which has always characterized Egyptian approach to Religion will at the end prevail. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Veysel Ayhan, ORSAM Middle East Adviser stated the roles of Muslim Brotherhood during and after the Egyptian Revolution. H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Anis Salem, Director of Development Works, expressed the issues in the country, the demands emerged after the revolution and the leading factors that have impacts on the political developments. The last discussant of the section, Dr. Seyfi Kılıç, ORSAM Water Research Programme Hydropolitics Researcher, focused on hydropolitic history of Nile Basin and the impact of the transition in Egypt to Nile Basin. 

The second section which was focused on the economic issues was chaired by H.E. Mr. Yaşar Yakış. Dr. Dina Khayat, Economic Expert, Founder and Chairman of Madar Capital criticized the approach of Muslim Brotherhood to IMF in her speeches that also covered current economic issues in Egypt. In addition she stated the need of heading toward tourism in which the costs are low and feed backs are much more quick in order to recover the economy of the country in short term and in so she noted the benefit of mutual cooperation of two countries in this direction. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Harun Öztürkler, ORSAM Middle East Economies Advisor, focused on the structural features of the Egyptian economy and expressed the economic recommendations in short and long term. Lastly, Hakan Karabalık, Head of Department in Ministry of Economy addressed the current economic issues and the opportunities for cooperation between two countries.

The last section which focused on the relations between Turkey and Egypt was chaired by H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Anis Salem. This section mainly took the aim at developing relations between two countries. The recommendation of cooperation on military field that argued by H.E. Ambassador Fathy El Shazly became prominent in the discussions. Ass. Prof. Dr. Şaban Kardaş, TOBB University, mentioned the new directions in Turkish foreign policy with the wake of Arap Spring. Abdullah Bozkurt, Chief-in-Bureau of Today’s Zaman, voiced the projects that develop the mutual relations. Bozkurt stated the contributions of mutual exchange programs and cooperation on language training, training of religious officials and different fields to the bilateral relations. He also emphasized that there are many things for two countries to learn from each other.

The workshop was ended with the great wish of continuing such kind of organizations and keeping close relations among the all participants.