Quoting the Qatari Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper, today (Tuesday), in a report on the most important axes of the talks between Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dandanis and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, points from the Ankara-Cairo talks were revealed.
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Egyptian diplomats told Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed that the main topic of talks between Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Cairo on Sunday is the new developments in relations between Cairo and Ankara, as Athens was previously close to Egypt more than Turkey. Where the Greek Foreign Minister expressed concern about the rapprochement with Egypt and Turkey.
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper indicates that this is the second visit of the Greek Foreign Minister to Cairo during the past two months.
I also wrote that this visit is due to statements by Turkish officials about “significant” progress on the diplomatic and security front.
Talks with Egypt, as well as steps taken in Turkey to stop media attacks on Cairo, although Egypt remains conservative in its rhetoric to officials and the media.
The case, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, created an ambiguity for Cyprus, Greece and other countries with negative roots against Turkey.
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The Qatari daily continues that issues such as the future of Egyptian-Turkish relations and their impact on relations with Greece and Cyprus, and whether Turkey can join the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Union, are the main topics of the Egyptian Foreign Minister’s talks with his Greek counterpart.
However, the official statements of the ministers ignored these issues and only referred to strengthening bilateral relations and knowledge of the situation in Libya.
Egyptian diplomats said that the Greek minister and his accompanying delegation repeatedly asked questions about “guarantees that Egypt wants to obtain from Turkey regarding regional issues, as well as special assurances not to interfere in Egypt’s internal affairs and stop media attacks through channels in Turkey.”
The sources added that the Egyptian side revealed for the first time during Sunday’s meeting that “discussions at an advanced level about the comprehensive withdrawal of Turkish forces from Libya and the country’s commitment not to intervene militarily in the Libyan affairs, as it is a strategic matter.”
He stressed that “Egypt is penetrating deep into the west of the country in exchange for the efforts of Egypt and Turkey to support a political force in Libya that is in the interest of both parties.”
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The sources also indicated that Egypt informed the Greeks of any potential threat to the interests of the Emirates and France, Egypt’s main allies in Libya, and other countries concerned about Turkish interference and the political impact of this move on the Libyan and transitional parliament.
The government said, “It will take into account the interests of Abu Dhabi and Paris, and keep them informed of the latest developments in these talks.”
According to these sources, on the issue of Egypt’s non-participation in the assembly held last Friday in Cyprus, in which Athens, Abu Dhabi, Tel Aviv and Nicosia participated, “Egypt’s decision was taken in the context of laying the foundation and expressing goodwill between Ankara and Cairo in light of the intelligence meetings between Ankara And Cairo. “
He added, “Turkey has relied heavily on an agreement to support its position in facing Greece over the maritime border crisis between the two countries.”
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The sources also said that due to the widening distance between Cairo and Athens, Greece began efforts to demarcate its maritime border with Libya, Turkey’s strategic ally, which Egyptian diplomats described as “disappointing.”
This is in order to put pressure on Ankara in the event of approaching Egypt. Convergence, if done, would weaken Greece’s position in the future.
Egyptian diplomats also expected that the alliance between Athens and Cairo would not be as strong as it was before, given Turkey’s involvement in some of Cairo’s demands from Ankara, including TV channels hostile to Egypt, as Turkey’s moves in this regard have satisfied Egypt.
He said that this step would lead to an agreement with Ankara on the Middle East and thus an alliance between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus.
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Regarding the gas issue, Egyptian sources said that Greece, Cyprus and the Israeli occupation have no problem with Turkey joining the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Union.
But Egypt made Turkey conditional on joining the union.
Conditions that Cairo informed Greece about, including full coordination with mechanisms of drilling, exploration, liquefaction, procedures and selling prices between countries.
However, all these issues were left on the negotiating table between Egypt and Turkey until the most important items and direct relations between the two countries were agreed upon.
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed writes that in light of the contradictory expectations of many economic agencies in the region and the world, as well as companies active in Europe’s continued dependence on gas and hydrocarbon products in future contracts, this is in the common interest of all parties. To support the hydrocarbon market and accelerate efforts to discover, extract and sign drilling and import agreements.
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The Qatari newspaper adds, on the other hand, that Turkey’s accession to the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Union is a natural goal for Ankara, as it ensures its participation in economic decision-making in the region, and on the other hand, Turkey’s use in dealing with the United States and Russia, and protects the region and its strategic presence. .
In addition, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed quoted the sources as saying that Turkey tends to link the discussion about the opportunities and conditions for joining the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Union with another important issue: such as the demarcation of the maritime borders.
It is an issue that Egyptian sources described as “the preferred target of the two countries.” But the current contacts between the two sides make this possible and easy in the future.
The sources said, “The Egyptian-Turkish talks are still studying their participation with Israel in an ambitious project to export gas to Europe, given that Egypt and Israel are now the main owner of the largest gas field in the region.”
