Main opposition CHP meets Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo

CAIRO

CHP deputy leader Faruk Loğoğlu (L) meets Muslim Brotherhood figure Amr Darrag during the main opposition’s trip to Egypt to visit opinion leaders. AA photo

Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputies Faruk Loğoğlu and Osman Korukütük visited Muslim Brotherhood figure and current Freedom and Justice Party secretary Amr Darrag, as part of a series of meetings conducted during their time in Egypt.

Details of the meetings remain unknown, but Darrag was a part of the CHP schedule, after the deputies had meetings earlier in the day with the al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyib and Industry and Trade Minister Munir Fahri Abdunnur.

Government officials have repeatedly targeted the CHP for visiting Cairo, accusing Turkey’s main opposition party of “siding with coup plotters.” Loğoğlu dismissed such criticism before leaving for Egypt, stressing that they would be meeting with representatives from the Muslim Brotherhood as well.

The meeting with Abdunnur mostly focused on the trade relations between the two countries, according to Anadolu Agency, with the minister highlighting a separation between politics and trade relations.

“The Egyptian government separates politics from trade and fulfills all its promises. I believe I gave the Turkish delegation information that would please them,” Abdunnur said following the visit.

Loğoğlu confirmed that the meeting was spent mostly discussing economic concerns. “I agree with the minister on separating trade from politics,” he said.

“We did not come here to further discuss Turkish foreign policy decisions that we have already criticized enough, but we understand the sensitivity and hardships here. We simply aim to improve the atmosphere with regard to Turkey-Egypt relations,” Loğoğlu added.

He also said the CHP delegation would be noting its observations and passing them on to the Turkish government and people.”