Turkey penalizes Egypt by suspending Morsi-era agreements

The Foreign Ministry summoned Hussein Boustali, Turkish ambassador to Egypt, on Tuesday, following the Turkish government’s announcement of the suspension of several agreements signed between the two nations.

The ministry informed Boustali that recent statements by Turkish officials constitute “clear interference in Egyptian internal affairs, while representing a violation of all forms of democracy and mutual respect.”  The ministry also stated that it informed the ambassador that it would be in the two nations’ best interests to “rise above any partisan or ideological differences.”

The Turkish government announced it will suspend several of the 27 agreements that had been finalized with Egypt during former President Mohamed Morsi’s one year-rule. The suspended contracts concern projects in a number of fields including communication, education and health.

Turkish newspaper Sabah reported on Tuesday that the government’s decision to suspend the agreements came as a response to the Egyptian army’s “opening of fire” on pro-Morsi protesters. Sabah describes the events on Friday night as the army’s attempt at managing its “military coup” — attempts that the paper claims have resulted in the “death of 200 people, and the injuring of thousands.”

Sabah further reported that the “first penalty” enforced by Ankara concerns the freezing of sales of ten ‘Anka’-model drones — currently considered to be one of the most advanced drones in the world — as well as an immediate cessation of all “military maneuvers” between the two nations.

New Turkish ambassador to Cairo Ahmed Yildiz has also been prevented by his government from occupying his post in Cairo, despite his term as ambassador having officially started on July 4. Meanwhile, all ships scheduled to leave for Port Said from Iskenderun, one of Turkey’s largest ports, have been cancelled.

In a speech made during a public iftar in Istanbul on Sunday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned what he referred to as “the massacre which claimed  200 of the [pro-Mursi] protesters at Rabea square,” asserting that his nation “would not remain silent towards the unfolding events in Egypt.”

Erdogan also rebuked those who display support or even apathy towards the crisis in Egypt, calling them “accomplices to a horrendous crime.”  Sabah reports that the decision to freeze specific agreements between Turkey and Egypt was made shortly after Sunday’s iftar.

In related news, Egyptian ambassador to Ankara, Abdel Rahman Salah Eddin denied on Tuesday reports circulating in Turkish media that visa restrictions for Turkish citizens visiting Egypt have been tightened. Salah Eddin then clarified, through a press statement that visa restrictions remain the same — Turkish citizens under the age of 20 or over the age of 45 will still be allowed to apply for their visas upon their arrival.