ANKARA, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- Relations between Turkey and Egypt took a nose-dive on Saturday with the latter expelling the Turkish ambassador in Cairo, which Ankara considered as a sign of escalating diplomatic tension between the two powerhouses in the Middle East.
"This means Egypt is not satisfied with recent overtures by Turkey to repair bilateral ties amid Ankara's continuous criticism on Egyptian military-backed interim government," Abdullah Bozkurt, political analyst in Ankara, told Xinhua.
"The two countries have recently been at loggerheads with each other; Turkey criticized Egypt's use of force against supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, while Egypt condemned the Turkish government for interfering in its domestic affairs," Bozkurt added.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been strained since then. Both countries recalled their ambassadors for consultations in a tit-for-tat policy.
In early September, Turkey sent back its ambassador to Cairo as an indication to improve nervous ties, while Egypt did not return the favor by holding back the return of Abderahman Salah El-Din, Egyptian ambassador to Turkey, awaiting the revision of Turkey's stance on Egyptian interim government.
Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Huseyin Avni Botsali was summoned to Egypt's Foreign Ministry earlier this month to convey Cairo's discomfort and uneasiness over recent remarks by Turkish officials regarding Egypt.
Just a day before Morsi stood for trial in Cairo, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly praised the four-finger Rabaa sign, a symbol cherished by the anti-army protesters and Morsi supporters in Egypt, as a defiance of interim government.
Erdogan said that the Rabaa symbol has become a sign saying " stop" to injustice in every corner of the world. "It is a sign to say stop to massacres and coups," he said.
"I suppose the Egyptian interim government has run out patience with awaiting Turkey to readjust its policy and toning down rhetoric," Mehmet Seyfettin Erol, professor of Ankara's Gazi University and head of the Center for International Strategic and Security Studies (USGAM), told Xinhua.
"The declaration of Turkish ambassador as persona non grata is a serious blow to the two countries' relations, as well as a significant message sent to Ankara," he underlined.
Meanwhile, Turkey also asked for a fair trial for Morsi, who was charged of inciting murdering protesters during the rallies outside the presidential palace in December 2012.
Turkish foreign ministry called on the Egyptian authorities to release Morsi and all other political prisoners, saying it would be a confidence-building measure contributed to dialogue and political reconciliation between the sides.
Erdogan had ever invited Morsi to appear at his ruling Justice and Development Party convention last year, which prompted claims that the Turkish government is ideologically close to the Muslim Brotherhood.
In July, Erdogan stated that he still considers the ousted president as the leader of Egypt.
"Currently, Morsi is still the Egyptian president because he was elected by the people. If we don't consider the situation like this, we would disregard the will of the Egyptian people. In Turkey we respect the will of the people, and we also respect the regime if they had won at the ballot box," he said.
"The narrow party vision of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will push relations to a course which Egypt was keen to avoid with the aim of preserving historical relations between the two countries." Egypt's presidential spokesman Ihab Badawi warned in November.
He underlined that Egypt is reevaluating ties with Turkey amid what he described as contradictory messages from Turkish officials.
"Both countries are tremendously important countries in the Middle East. The fallout for worsening ties will have repercussions beyond the region," Mesut Cevikalp, policy analyst, said.
"They need to find a political solution to normalize ties in respond to common threats and challenges that threaten stability in the region," he noted.
"This means Egypt is not satisfied with recent overtures by Turkey to repair bilateral ties amid Ankara's continuous criticism on Egyptian military-backed interim government," Abdullah Bozkurt, political analyst in Ankara, told Xinhua.
"The two countries have recently been at loggerheads with each other; Turkey criticized Egypt's use of force against supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, while Egypt condemned the Turkish government for interfering in its domestic affairs," Bozkurt added.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been strained since then. Both countries recalled their ambassadors for consultations in a tit-for-tat policy.
In early September, Turkey sent back its ambassador to Cairo as an indication to improve nervous ties, while Egypt did not return the favor by holding back the return of Abderahman Salah El-Din, Egyptian ambassador to Turkey, awaiting the revision of Turkey's stance on Egyptian interim government.
Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Huseyin Avni Botsali was summoned to Egypt's Foreign Ministry earlier this month to convey Cairo's discomfort and uneasiness over recent remarks by Turkish officials regarding Egypt.
Just a day before Morsi stood for trial in Cairo, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly praised the four-finger Rabaa sign, a symbol cherished by the anti-army protesters and Morsi supporters in Egypt, as a defiance of interim government.
Erdogan said that the Rabaa symbol has become a sign saying " stop" to injustice in every corner of the world. "It is a sign to say stop to massacres and coups," he said.
"I suppose the Egyptian interim government has run out patience with awaiting Turkey to readjust its policy and toning down rhetoric," Mehmet Seyfettin Erol, professor of Ankara's Gazi University and head of the Center for International Strategic and Security Studies (USGAM), told Xinhua.
"The declaration of Turkish ambassador as persona non grata is a serious blow to the two countries' relations, as well as a significant message sent to Ankara," he underlined.
Meanwhile, Turkey also asked for a fair trial for Morsi, who was charged of inciting murdering protesters during the rallies outside the presidential palace in December 2012.
Turkish foreign ministry called on the Egyptian authorities to release Morsi and all other political prisoners, saying it would be a confidence-building measure contributed to dialogue and political reconciliation between the sides.
Erdogan had ever invited Morsi to appear at his ruling Justice and Development Party convention last year, which prompted claims that the Turkish government is ideologically close to the Muslim Brotherhood.
In July, Erdogan stated that he still considers the ousted president as the leader of Egypt.
"Currently, Morsi is still the Egyptian president because he was elected by the people. If we don't consider the situation like this, we would disregard the will of the Egyptian people. In Turkey we respect the will of the people, and we also respect the regime if they had won at the ballot box," he said.
"The narrow party vision of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will push relations to a course which Egypt was keen to avoid with the aim of preserving historical relations between the two countries." Egypt's presidential spokesman Ihab Badawi warned in November.
He underlined that Egypt is reevaluating ties with Turkey amid what he described as contradictory messages from Turkish officials.
"Both countries are tremendously important countries in the Middle East. The fallout for worsening ties will have repercussions beyond the region," Mesut Cevikalp, policy analyst, said.
"They need to find a political solution to normalize ties in respond to common threats and challenges that threaten stability in the region," he noted.