عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Egypt Hints at Restoring Diplomatic Ties with Turkey Soon

Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly (Egyptian TV)
Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly (Egyptian TV)
TT
TT

Egypt Hints at Restoring Diplomatic Ties with Turkey Soon

Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly (Egyptian TV)
Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly (Egyptian TV)

Egypt could restore diplomatic ties with Turkey this year if outstanding issues are overcome, said Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

Speaking to Bloomberg, Madbouly said that a vital issue for Egypt remains Turkey's involvement in Libya, where no other countries should be physically interfering or try to influence decision-making.

"We would like to leave Libyans to decide their future."

Asked about the Egyptian-Turkish dialogue, Madbouly said that "there's been a lot of movement that has taken place in the last few months," but there also remain some outstanding issues.

Earlier, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that Cairo is "eager to find a resolution" and a formula for restoring normal relations with Ankara, however, "more work needs to be done" to reach such a step.

Last week, Egypt and Turkey held their second round of "exploratory" talks in Ankara.

Both agreed to continue their consultations, confirming their desire to progress in areas under discussion and the need to take further steps to facilitate the normalization of ties.

According to an Egyptian statement, the two delegations discussed bilateral issues and several regional topics, such as the situation in Libya, Syria, Palestine, and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The first round of consultations was held in May in Cairo. Representatives of the two countries said that the discussions were frank and that the two sides addressed bilateral and regional issues.

During the past months, Turkey took steps that Cairo described as "positive," after Ankara ordered Istanbul-based channels affiliated with the Brotherhood to stop airing criticism and incitement against Egyptian authorities.

Speaking to Bloomberg also, Shoukry said that at this stage, Cairo still has to evaluate the outcome of this second round of discussions and the context of the bilateral relations.

Once Egypt is "satisfied" that outstanding issues have been resolved, the door will be open for further progress, noted Shoukry.

Turkey had recently hinted at the possible exchange of ambassadors with Egypt after reducing their diplomatic representation to the level of charge d'affaires in 2013.

Relations between Ankara and Cairo deteriorated over the Turkish position on the fall of the Muslim Brotherhood rule in Egypt and its support for the group that the Egyptian authorities have designated a terrorist organization.

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said his country was ready to negotiate with Egy​pt to demarcate the maritime borders and determine the areas of validity in the eastern Mediterranean if Cairo requests.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Experts Warn Floods to Continue to Impact Humanitarian Situation in Yemen

Yemen receives high levels of rainfall annually (AFP)
Yemen receives high levels of rainfall annually (AFP)
TT
TT

Experts Warn Floods to Continue to Impact Humanitarian Situation in Yemen

Yemen receives high levels of rainfall annually (AFP)
Yemen receives high levels of rainfall annually (AFP)

Although Yemen's rainy season nears its end, experts on Thursday warned of heavy showers in several areas across the country, nevertheless with a decrease in their frequency and intensity.

Heavy downpours in war-torn Yemen over the past weeks have triggered flash flooding and landslides, causing significant casualties and damages in properties and infrastructure.

On Tuesday, experts and meteorology centers forecast scattered rains on the easternmost province of Mahra, the western highlands in the provinces of Taiz, Ibb, Lahj, Rayma, Dhamar, Sanaa, Al Mahwit, Amran, Hajjah and Saada, as well as the western coast in the provinces of Hajjah, Hodeidah and Taiz, and the plains in the provinces of Abyan, Shabwa and Hadramaut.

In forecasts posted on social media, the experts warned of thunderclouds carrying huge amounts of rain, accompanied by hail, thunder and strong winds, urging residents to take the necessary precautions.

Since early this month, Yemen has witnessed a drop in rainfall. In July and August, Yemen experienced severe flooding due to prolonged heavy rainfall, fueled by unusual weather patterns. Numerous governorates across the nation were impacted, especially the governorates of Hodeidah and Al Mahwit.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) this week warned of a deepening humanitarian disaster in Yemen as ongoing floods, which began in March and intensified in July and August, continue to devastate multiple governorates.

The floods have displaced tens of thousands of families, destroyed vital infrastructure, and fueled the rapid spread of cholera.

Floods have severely impacted the governorates of Hodeidah, Hajjah, Marib, Saada, and Taiz, with nearly 268,000 individuals affected as of last month.

IRC warned that while rainfall has stopped in September, the risk of additional flash floods remains high due to already saturated ground and poor drainage systems.

Severe Impact of Floods

IRC said that floods have severely impacted the governorates of Hodeidah, Hajjah, Marib, Sadah, and Taiz, with nearly 268,000 individuals (38,285 families) affected as of last month, according to OCHA reports.

It said the heavy rains, expected to persist into September, have caused widespread destruction of homes, agricultural land, and infrastructure, further limiting access to food - an issue that more than 17 million Yemenis are already struggling with due to conflict, economic decline, and rising food prices, all exacerbated by the climate crisis.

In Taiz alone, an estimated 70 to 100% of agricultural land has been destroyed. While rainfall has stopped in September, the risk of additional flash floods remains high due to already saturated ground and poor drainage systems.

The IRC urgently called on the international community to scale up financial and logistical support to meet the immediate and long-term needs of those affected by this disaster. Without timely action, the situation in Yemen will continue to deteriorate, putting more lives at risk, it warned.

Rapid Spread of Cholera

“Yemen is facing a crisis on multiple fronts—ongoing conflict, severe flooding, and now a cholera outbreak that has been rapidly spreading across several governorates,” IRC’s Acting Country Director in Yemen, Isaiah Ogolla, said.

Ogolla said people’s lives are at immediate risk, and the destruction of water and sanitation facilities is likely to worsen the spread of the disease.

“In response, the IRC is launching emergency operations in the hardest-hit districts of Hajjah, Hodeidah, Al-Mahwit and Taiz, providing cash assistance to approximately 2,000 affected households,” he said.

The IRC acting country director noted that the initial phase will focus on addressing immediate needs, with further assessments planned to guide potential interventions in water and sanitation, such as establishing water points and emergency latrines.

Ogolla said the IRC and its partners have conducted assessments across the affected areas, revealing that nearly 9,600 people have been displaced due to the floods in Taiz, Hajjah, and Hodeidah.

The floodwaters have severely damaged water, sanitation, and health infrastructure, increasing the risk of further cholera outbreaks across these regions.

On Tuesday, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KsRelief) distributed emergency shelter aids to those affected by torrents and floods in the Mawza district of Taiz Governorate.

The emergency aid included 100 tents and 370 shelter bags, benefiting 2,220 individuals affected by floods.