CAIRO: An Egyptian delegation is currently holding talks in Ankara to restore diplomatic relations with Turkey and determine the fate of Muslim Brotherhood leaders living there.
Arrangements have been made between Cairo and Ankara to hand over 15 Brotherhood leaders who were convicted of terrorist crimes, according to sources.
The sources added that Cairo “adheres to the demand for the extradition of 15 … Muslim Brotherhood leaders convicted of terrorist crimes, and Ankara sensed Egypt’s seriousness in linking the progress of the issue of normalization of relations with the implementation of its demands.”
On Tuesday, Cairo announced an upcoming visit by Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hamdi Loza to Ankara next month, following an invitation from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said: “In response to the invitation submitted by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Hamdi Loza, deputy foreign minister, will visit Ankara on Sept. 7-8 to hold the second round of exploratory talks between Egypt and Turkey.”
It said the visit “is expected to address the bilateral relations between the two sides, as well as a number of regional files.”
After a period of Turkish courtship of Cairo, Ankara announced last March the resumption of its diplomatic contacts with Egypt, and directed Muslim Brotherhood media operating on its land to soften its tone toward Cairo.
Meanwhile, a dissident leader from the Muslim Brotherhood said the Turkish authorities had banned the travel of those involved in the killing of an Egyptian public prosecutor as part of the measures adopted against the terrorist organization.
Tariq Abu Al-Saad, a leader who defected from the Brotherhood, confirmed in press statements that Ankara had placed Brotherhood figures involved in the murder of former Egyptian Attorney General Hisham Barakat under house arrest.
“Brotherhood leaders sold their properties in Turkey some time ago and left for different countries, most notably Malaysia, Canada and Britain,” he said.
“I cannot be certain that Turkey has completely abandoned the Brotherhood … But I am sure that Turkey will not, during the next stage, play the same role that it played in the past 10 years,” Abu Al-Saad added.