Erdogan: Ankara-Cairo Ties May Normalize After Ex-President Morsi's Release

Releasing former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and his supporters would pave the way toward normalization of ties between Cairo and Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

ANKARA (Sputnik) — The improvement in relations between Turkey and Egypt depends on the Egyptian authorities' decision regarding the release of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and his supporters, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday.

"After Morsi and his allies are released, the normalization of our relations with Egypt can be started… The development of trade relations with Egypt would be a positive step for Turkey. However, negotiations with the Egyptian side are impossible with my personal participation from a moral point of view," Erdogan said in an interview to Rotana TV channel, adding that the current Egyptian government came to power in a coup.

Relations between Egypt and Turkey deteriorated following the removal from power and arrest of Morsi, who was supported by Turkey's ruling Justice and Development (AKP) party, in the 2013 state coup.

In August 2013, Turkey and Egypt withdrew their ambassadors for consultations. Later in November, Cairo declared the Turkish ambassador persona non grata. Ankara responded with the similar move.