President Gül congratulates Egyptian interim president on national day

ANKARA - Hürriyet

The ties between the countries have been strained since Turkey adopted a harsh stance against the military takeover in Egypt on July 3. AA photo

President Abdullah Gül has sent a message to Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour to congratulate the country on its national day, the Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed to daily Hürriyet July 24.

The ties between the countries have been strained since Turkey adopted a harsh stance against the military takeover in Egypt on July 3, repeatedly emphasizing the illegitimacy of the elected President Mohamed Morsi’s ouster. 

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Levent Gümrükçü said in a written statement that the message sent by Gül on July 23 was a “customary” one, conveyed every year, intending to send regards to his counterpart for the national day.

Gümrükçü also said that the letter had been addressed to Adly Mansour.

Despite saying that it would not cut diplomatic ties with Egypt, Ankara is leading efforts to push the international community to re-instate Morsi. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu met with Egypt’s Ankara envoy Abderahman Salaheldin last week to soothe the ongoing tension.