Minister Fidan holds joint press conference in Egypt

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan continues his contacts in Egypt, where he is on an official visit.

Minister Fidan attended the Second Meeting of the Turkey-Egypt Joint Planning Group held in the city of El Alamein.

The meeting was co-chaired by Minister Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

Minister Fidan made statements at a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart.

Highlights from Minister Fidan's speech:

Relations between Turkey and Egypt are progressing at an excellent level.

We will reach the 15 billion dollar trade volume target.

We are working very closely on the Gaza issue. Our efforts regarding the ongoing peace plan continue.

We see that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his team are escalating policies that increasingly trample on human dignity and are in a stance that practically provokes the entire international community.

We hope for the re-establishment of a ceasefire between the US and Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Regarding the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed between Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, "The Mecca alliance has been a historic moment for our region by its very nature.

Egypt is our natural partner, and hopefully, it will soon be our official partner as well.

Our region has lost too much time with wars, occupations, and internal conflicts.

There is a significant gap we need to close.

We expect the US to exert the necessary pressure on Israel. Otherwise, as Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt, we will have to take radical steps on this matter.

It is unacceptable that Israel does not change its intentions in any way while the Palestinian side is fulfilling its duties despite the difficulties.