Egyptian Foreign Minister: Stopping Egyptian media programs in Turkey is a positive step

The Egyptian authorities welcomed the suspension of broadcasting Egyptian media programs in Turkey on satellite channels and social networking sites, describing it as a positive step.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry explained - in a telephone conversation with the Egyptian "Cairo and Al-Nas" satellite channel - that the step is consistent with the constants of international relations, which stipulate that normal relations between countries are based on non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

He added that allowing what he called "the opposing parties" to act against another country is contrary to those international rules.

Shoukry stated that the Turkish move, "if it stabilizes and continues, will lead to the normalization of relations and the continuation of contacts at various levels to set the framework and resume relations."

stop programs

Last March, opposition Egyptian channels - broadcasting from Istanbul - announced that they would stop broadcasting episodes of many of their political programmes.

At that time, the Egyptian Minister of Information, Osama Heikal, welcomed the Turkish government's decision to obligate "anti-Egypt channels" to the media codes of honor.

Heikal described this step as a good gesture from the Turkish side, and it creates an appropriate atmosphere for discussing the issues in dispute between the two countries over the past years, stressing that the political differences between Turkey and Egypt do not serve the interests of the two peoples.

The relations of the two countries have witnessed escalating tensions since mid-2013, and reached their climax when Egypt approached a direct confrontation with Turkey in Libya, but the scene soon turned to a different degree that can be read from the positive Turkish statements towards Egypt.

A source in the Communications Department of the Presidency of the Turkish Republic had previously confirmed the news of Ankara's request from the Egyptian channels broadcasting from Istanbul - in a meeting with their directors - to stop political programs, pointing to an agreement between the Egyptian and Turkish governments to ease media tension.

The source stressed that the Turkish government will not shut down the Egyptian opposition channels and will not extradite Egyptian opponents, explaining that what happened was the request from TV channel managers "to abide by the media honor code in order to contribute to improving relations."