We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/Script TURKEY EGYPT DIPLOMACY HEADLINE: Turkey-Egypt Rapprochement Raises Hopes for Peace in Mideast, Africa
TEASER: Turkey and Egypt have both been involved in civil wars in Ethiopia and Libya and analysts hope the recent restoration of full diplomatic ties between Cairo and Ankara will help ease tensions across the regions. PUBLISHED AT: 07/20/2023 AT 2:15PM BYLINE: Dorian Jones CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Istanbul VIDEOGRAPHER: Berke Bas DO NOT USE NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS, Agency PRODUCER: SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, MAS VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA ORIGINAL, AFP, Reuters PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO _X_ TRT: 2:26 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TVPKG UPDATE: DO NOT USE BERKE BAS NAME FOR SECURITY REASONS.)) ((INTRO)) [[The restoration of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Egypt in early July is raising hopes for ending conflicts across the Middle East and Africa. For VOA, Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.]] ((NARRATOR))
Turkey and Egypt have both been involved in civil wars in Ethiopia and Libya and analysts hope the recent restoration of full diplomatic ties between Cairo and Ankara will help ease tensions across the Middle East and Africa regions. [[RADIO VERSION: Libyan Security analyst Aya Burweila.]] ((Aya Burweila, Security Analyst - IN ENGLISH))) ((Zoom)) “It could affect Egypt, at least the issue they have in Ethiopia, because both countries support different sides of the conflict. So, in general, I think this is good. I think it's helpful for Libya as well because both sides support different factions in Libya. And I think this stalemate has gone on for such a long time. It is about time existing powers figure out something that everyone can agree on.” ((NARRATOR)) Turkey's military intervention in support of Libya's Government of National Accord
against Egyptian-backed forces of General Khalifa Haftar brought Turkey and Egypt to the brink of a direct confrontation. Now, Ankara says economic cooperation offers a way forward. [[RADIO VERSION: Mesut Casin is a presidential adviser at Istanbul’s Yeditepe University.]] ((Mesut Casin, Turkish Presidential Adviser - male in English ON CAMERA VOA ORIGINAL)) “When you are looking at the tense times, almost Turkey and Egyptian armies came face to face here. However, Turkey and Egyptian, first of all, may bring energy security and energy trade. Secondly, if they come together in Libya, it should be beneficial to both Turkey and Libya.”
((NARRATOR))
But the Turkish military presence in Libya remains an obstacle, with Cairo calling for its removal. [[RADIO VERSION: That is the warning from security analyst Aya Burweila.]] ((Aya Burweila, Security Analyst ((FEMALE IN ENGLISH))) ((Zoom))
“Egypt wants to see concrete actions. They want to see the withdrawal of troops from Libya. The withdrawal of Syrian mercenaries in Libya. Egypt has a red line in Libya.”
((NARRATOR))
Libya's vast energy wealth offers a powerful impetus for cooperation between Turkey and Egypt. [[RADIO VERSION: Jalel Harchaoui at the Royal United Services Institute in London.]] ((Jalel Harchaoui, Royal United Services Institute - MALE IN ENGLISH))) ((Zoom)) “It's going to be about taking care of Libya, avoiding situations worsening in secondary theaters like Tunisia, if Chad gets into trouble because it's fragilized (fragmented) by the Sudan war, you would be able to just assume that Turkey and Egypt are roughly on the same side. Same thing with Sudan; you don't have the knee-jerk reaction of always
being against the other.” ((NARRATOR))
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signed tens of billions of dollars in contracts with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, both allies of Egypt. Analysts say such deals will help ensure the future of Turkey and Egypt’s new rapprochement and with it, the removal-of a destabilizing force in the region. ((Dorian Jones, for VOA News, Istanbul)
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Istanbul
Embargo DateJuly 20, 2023 17:17 EDT
Byline
Dorian Jones, for VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
