CAIRO — Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Thursday thanked the Turkish people for what he described as a “warm welcome” extended to Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah following his move to Turkish club Trabzonspor.
“We thank the Turkish people for the warm welcome extended to star player Mohamed Salah of Trabzonspor, which has touched our hearts,” Abdelatty said during a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Cairo.
Fidan was in Egypt on an official visit for talks focused on bilateral relations and a range of regional and international issues.
Salah’s reported arrival at Trabzonspor has generated significant interest among Egyptian and Turkish football fans, with his move becoming a notable sporting development linking the two countries.
Abdelatty used the occasion to highlight the broader relationship between Egypt and Türkiye, saying bilateral ties were “indeed built on strong foundations.”
Egypt condemns attacks on Syria
Turning to regional developments, Abdelatty said Egypt opposed and condemned what he described as Israeli attacks on Syria’s sovereignty.
“We oppose and condemn all Israeli attacks on Syria’s sovereignty,” he said, stressing the need to respect Syria’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty.
The Egyptian foreign minister also discussed the situation in Sudan, saying Cairo was in full agreement with Ankara on the importance of preserving Sudan’s territorial integrity.
“We are in full agreement with Türkiye on supporting Sudan’s territorial integrity and rejecting any division of the country,” Abdelatty said.
Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has displaced millions of people and created a major humanitarian crisis.
Gaza and political process
Abdelatty also addressed the situation in the Gaza Strip, where efforts to reach a lasting ceasefire and begin a political process remain a major regional priority.
He said Palestinian groups in Gaza had acted responsibly regarding the issue of laying down their arms and starting a political process.
“The Palestinian groups in Gaza have acted responsibly with respect to laying down their arms and beginning the political process. Israel must also fulfil its obligations,” Abdelatty said.
His comments came as Egypt and Türkiye continue diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing conflicts and political crises across the Middle East and North Africa.
The talks between Abdelatty and Fidan highlighted the increasingly close coordination between Cairo and Ankara on regional issues, including Syria, Sudan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Both countries have sought to strengthen bilateral ties in recent years after a period of strained relations, with senior officials increasingly engaging in high-level diplomatic and economic discussions.
