In anticipation of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s two-day visit to Egypt starting on September 13, many campaigns have been launched on Facebook to welcome him with flowers at the Cairo International Airport.
We will welcome Erdogan, the symbol of pride and dignity in the Arab world,” reads a comment by a certain Mahmoud Mahdi. I would like to have some details about the programme of his visit, as I want to give him a present, to show how much I respect him,” comments another man, Moustafa Abul Magd.
Erdogan’s decision to visit Egypt comes just days after Turkey expelled Israel’s Ambassador and suspended all military agreements over its refusal to apologize for last year’s raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla.
Following the expulsion of the Israeli envoy from Turkey, Egyptians called on the Government to follow suit by expelling the Israeli envoy in Cairo, as well amending the Camp David Accords to allow more Egyptian forces in the Sinai Peninsula.
We should let the whole world and the Military Council in particular know that we respect Erdogan’s decision to expel the Israeli Ambassador, and we hope that our Military Council does the same,” writes another man, Mahmoud Shafiq.
While Turkey expels the Israeli Ambassador, we begin constructing a security barrier to protect the Israel Embassy here,” he adds bitterly. Shafiq refers to the construction of a new concrete wall at least 3m tall and 100m long, around the Israeli Embassy, to prevent protesters from gaining entry to the building.
Turkish Deputy Premier Bulent Arinc said in a statement that Erdogan is due to meet with the head of Egypt’s ruling Military Council, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi; Prime Minister Essam Sharaf; and other leading Egyptian politicians and intellectuals during his visit. Arinc added that the visit is expected to lead to important decisions, reflecting the strength of Egyptian-Turkish relations.
Erdogan will be accompanied by Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Trade and Industry Minister and a number of businessmen. The purpose of the visit is to sign strategic co-operation agreements in the military, diplomatic and commercial fields.
The Turkish Deputy PM added that Erdogan might cross into Gaza at the Rafah crossing after making arrangements with the relevant Egyptian authorities.
Salwa SAMIR – Strategic Outlook
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