Turkey moves against pro-Ikhwan TV hosts as it looks to patch things up with Cairo
Turkey is taking action against TV hosts as it looks to warm ties with Cairo: Turkey-based Egyptian pro-Ikhwan TV channel El Sharq will no longer allow Haytham Abu Khaleel to appear on its network, after Turkish authorities told the broadcaster to ban the presenter for violating instructions to abstain from criticizing Egypt, sources told Al Arabiya. According to the sources, Abu Khalil has been warned by Ankara not to make any more appearances on Turkish public media, whether broadcast, print or social media. Turkish officials also warned four other Ikhwani broadcasters not to criticize Egypt in their content.
The move comes as Turkey attempts to mend an almost decade-long rift with Egypt, which has said that Ankara must fulfil certain requirements — including withdrawing from Libya and handing over members of the Ikhwan — before diplomatic ties can be restored. Al Sharq, which is run by former Egyptian MP Ayman Nour, is one of three broadcasters that were told by Turkish authorities in March to refrain from criticizing the Egyptian government so as not to affect ongoing talks.
Shoukry has been doing the rounds at the UN: According to a number of foreign ministry statements, Shoukry yesterday held bilateral talks with the foreign ministers of Ireland, France, and Vietnam, participated in a meeting of members of the Berlin Conference process on Libya, and gave a speech at a meeting to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Durban Declaration against racial discrimination and xenophobia.