Egypt tones down criticism of Turkey as divisions are being addressed

Egypt has instructed its media to water down criticism of Turkey at a time the two countries are engaged in secret talks to iron out conflicting files including the Libyan one.

A source in Egyptian state TV who asked not to be named told New Khaleej that authorities gave the new instructions as Cairo and Ankara are nearing an understanding on Libya.

 

The source added that Egyptian media are also advised to reduce their criticism of and attacks on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

 

The move comes as Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin in an interview with a local media said Ankara will thaw ties with Cairo if it reveals a willingness to act with a positive agenda on regional issues, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) reports.

The two countries’ relations have turned sour since 2013 after incumbent Egyptian President Fattah al-Sisi, a military general then, removed Mohamed Morsi from the Muslim Brotherhood one year after his election as Egypt’s first democratically elected president.

 

Ankara laid into the coup and has been accused of hosting members of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group backlisted by the Sisi regime.

 

They further fell apart after Ankara backed Libya’s internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) against Egypt’s backed rebel Gen. Khalifa Haftar.

Egypt has also rejected the November maritime agreement between Ankara and the GNA and joined Greece, Israel, and Italy to confront Turkey’s oil and gas ambition in the Mediterranean.

Intelligence services of both countries are reportedly holding secret talks on the Mediterranean issue.