Turkey's main opposition sends delegation to Egypt

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy leader Faruk Loğoğlu (in picture) and Istanbul deputy Osman Korütürk will pay a three-day visit to Egypt between Sept. 9 and 12. Both are former ambassadors. AA photo

Turkey’s main opposition party has said it will send two of its highest-ranking officials to Egypt upon the invitation of the North African country’s interim government, amid deepening tension between Ankara and Cairo. 

Faruk Loğoğlu, deputy leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), and Osman Korutürk, a CHP Istanbul Deputy, will pay a three-day visit to Egypt between Sept. 9 and 12. 

“Relations between Turkey and Egypt are strategically important with regard to regional peace and stability. The current state of relations between the two countries and recent developments in the region necessitates a healthy ground for this relation,” a written statement issued from the party said Sept. 3. 

Loğoğlu and Korutürk will find an opportunity to meet political circles, civil society organizations, the media and other relevant circles during their stay in Cairo, the statement said. 

A CHP delegation under the leadership of party chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu traveled last month to Iraq, another regional country whose ties with Turkey have been deteriorated. 

Ankara has repeatedly condemned the July 3 coup d’état in Egypt and called on the interim government to release President Mohamed Morsi and announce immediate elections in the country.