Egypt Recalls Ambassador to Turkey, Scales back Ties over ‘Interference’

In a new development in the strained Egypt-Turkey relations, Egypt has decided to recall its ambassador to Turkey and summon the Turkish envoy in Cairo, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Saturday.

A statement issued by the ministry’s spokesman Saturday said the government has decided to lower diplomatic representation to the level of charge d’affaires. It said Egypt has already transferred its own ambassador to Turkey Abdel Rahman Salah to Cairo.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry further said the Turkish ambassador to Cairo has been considered persona non grata and would be ordered to leave the country because of Turkey’s continued “interference” in Egyptian internal affairs.

“We decided to withdraw our ambassador from Turkey and summon the Turkish ambassador in Cairo to inform him he is no longer persona non grata and ask him to leave,” Badr Abdel Aaty said.

Egypt has denounced Turkish criticism of the Egyptian military’s overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.

Relations between Egypt and Turkey have been strained since the ouster of Mohamed Morsi at the beginning of July. Turkey’s Islamist government was closely allied with the Morsi regime and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been vocal in his criticism of the current political climate in Egypt.

Erdoğan faced much criticism and condemnation over a comment he made earlier last April in which he expressed his disappointment in Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb for favouring “leaders of the coup.” His statement was condemned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the presidency’s media advisor, the Council of Egyptian Churches, Egypt’s Catholic Church.

The Turkish Prime Minister also claimed last September that Israel was behind Morsi’s ouster.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, has warned Turkey to not involve itself in Egypt’s internal affairs several times.