Egypt snubs Turkey in Suez Canal Opening: Turkish FM

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç told reporters on Wednesday that Egypt has not sent Turkey an invitation to attend the inauguration of the New Suez Canal on 6 August.

Official sources confirmed to Ahram Online that Turkey has not been invited to the opening.

In mid July, however, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stated that Turkey had been invited, adding that it is an event related to international commerce and it would be illogical to only invite specific countries to the opening ceremony.

Tensions between Egypt and Turkey have been on the rise since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, an ally of Erdogan, following mass protests against his presidency in July 2013.

The Islamist Turkish president has repeatedly called for Morsi’s release from detention. The former president is currently standing trial for four separate cases in Egypt.

Source:Ahram Online