The relations between Turkey and Egypt go back a long way and they are rooted. As Mustafa Kemal Atatürk launched in the 20th century, Turkey started to turn to western-oriented and unilateral policies. Therefore, there was a gap between Turkey and the Arab World -especially between Turkey and Egypt. And in the 2000s when the Justice and Development Party came to the power, Turkey pursued a more independent and balanced foreign policy in the region while domestically weakening Mubarak’s regime got closer to the West and Israel. This coincided to an era when Turkey got stronger economically and politically. While Turkey was dealing with the problems in Palestine, Iraq, and Lebanon, Mubarak’s regime not only was indifferent to the problems but also tried to build an iron wall on Gaza strip. In addition to the reasons such as oppression, corruption, and poverty, Mubarak’s wrong attitude towards Palestinian problem also caused the regime lose its legitimacy.
The Justice and Development Party tried to improve the relations between Turkey and Egypt and the relations between the two improved noticeably. However, Mubarak administration was not as willing as Turkey in terms of abolishing visas and customs. Investments from Turkey and improving trade developed economic cooperation. Significant investments of Turkish companies in Egypt employed 50 thousand people. For a country where unemployment is a serious problem, investments bear great importance. At the same time the number of diplomatic visits increased and cultural relations improved. For instance, in the last couple of years Yunus Emre Culture Center and two Turkish schools started to be active in Egypt.
During the protests that have brought an end to Mubarak regime, Turkey by supporting democracy revolution stood by the right demands of Egyptian people not her interests. Erdogan’s “Mubarak should go now” message –with some risks but a perfect timing- not only supported the revolution but also became an example for the Western countries. Like itself which evolved with democracy, Turkey thinks that Egypt will develop and get stronger with democracy which she also developed with.. Turkey supports Egypt’s development and strengthening.
Unlike in Mubarak era, Turkey and Egypt will move from secret rivalry to cooperation in the new era and indeed they should. After the revolution the first state to visit Egypt at presidency level was Turkey. Also Minister of Foreign Affairs Davutoglu frequently visits this county and supports the democratic process. The first visits had symbolic meanings and were important. However, what is needed now is more than verbal support. In this respect, Prime Minister Erdogan’s visit to Egypt is rather significant.
Last year while I was making a research on Turkey’s image in Egypt, I realized that economic and democratic developments attracted great attention. People paid great importance to the fact that a Muslim country not only improves democracy but also develops . In June and July after the revolution when I was in Egypt again, I noticed that in Egyptian people’s interest in Turkey increased more and more, particularly public show great interest to the model of Turkey and her experience in every aspect since this is the first time that they are determining their future
Especially the youth of Tahrir –with left and right wings- take Turkey as a model. In order to see the elections on 12th June some people from this youth group had the chance to witness the election experience in Turkey. There should be a response to this interest. Turkey can support appropriate demands from every region by acting objectively as much as possible for the various groups in Egypt. More than money, Egypt needs a democratic system that works and solves the problems.
Turkey’s support to Egypt can be more like sharing some experience and technical support. Having an office of Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency in Egypt will be effective. It may help Egypt with its organizations on poverty and offer technical support. Especially in terms of Justice and Development Party’s municipal works, health care, transportation, housing, education and political activities (the constitution, political parties, and organization), Turkey’s experience should be used. As democracy helped noticeably to Turkey’s development, new democracy will help Egypt to develop and the region to have stability.
In the future there will be cooperation, trade, and investments between Turkey and Egypt. But, due to ambiguity and instability Egypt has been going through a serious economic depression now. While Turkey supports democratic reforms to gain speed, it should also encourage the world’s market to have investments there with confidence in Egyptian economy. Egypt, with a stronger economy, will be more closed to poverty-based external pressure and manipulation.
Like Turkey that has better relations with its neighbors with the touch of democracy, a democratic Egypt will have more positive relations both with the region and Turkey. Turkey sees Egypt not as a rival but as a partner, and it should. The problems in the region are already greater than Egypt and Turkey can solve on their own. For this reason, Erdogan’s visit to Egypt and Turkey’s recent support to this country are vitally important. Egypt’s success depends on how democracy works and this success is both for the good of Turkey and that of the region.
Translation: Leyla Deniz