Ambassador Hamdi Loza, deputy minister of foreign affairs for African affairs, participated in the meetings of the Turkey-Africa Partnership held in Istanbul on 16-17 December 16-17.
In his speech during the meetings, Loza affirmed keenness that the African Union’s partnerships with other countries and regional groupings contribute to supporting the efforts of African countries in achieving security, stability, development and regional integration.
He also reviewed the areas of bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Turkey, especially trade exchange, investments and tourism.
In 2008, the Africa-Turkey partnership was formed in the Istanbul Summit. The second Africa-Turkey Summit took place in 2014 in Malabo, Guinea.
Egyptian and Turkish diplomats held rounds of exploratory consultations this year with the aim of normalizing relations, which were severed in 2013 due to Turkey’s support to the Muslim Brotherhood outlawed in Egypt.
Egyptian-Turkish diplomatic relations can be restored this year if the outstanding issues are resolved, said Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli in an interview with Bloomberg in September.
Madbouli affirmed that the main issue for Egypt is Turkey’s involvement in Libya, adding that no other country should interfere in Libya, or try to influence decision-making there. “We would like to let the Libyans decide their future.”
