Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesperson Omer Celik said in a press conference yesterday, that Turkey began normalization talks with Egypt, the Anadolu Agency reports.

Celik stressed that there are important issues the two countries need to discuss and find solutions for, including developments in Libya, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, and the Eastern Mediterranean.

“Egypt is one of the important partners of our country. With 21 flights per week, Turkish Airlines has the highest number of flights in the African continent to Cairo. In 2020, our total trade volume was $4.85 billion,” he explained.

Last Wednesday, Turkey held a diplomatic meeting Egypt and UAE to end a years-long rift.

After an eight-year rift between Egypt and Turkey over the war in Libya and a dispute over the Eastern Mediterranean waters, Ankara and Cairo began talks in May in an effort to improve ties.