Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, one of several foreign dignitaries attending the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) congress in Ankara on Sunday, said Turkey's involvement in the developments in Egypt and other regional countries was essential to economic and social rehabilitation following the Arab Spring revolutions in those countries, Today's Zaman newspaper reported.

During his first visit to Turkey, Morsi spoke from the stage and urged his audience to support "nations that are aspiring to freedom and independence." Addressing the Turkish nation specifically, Morsi added: "We need your (Turkey's) help in terms of managing the process after the Arab Spring in the region," the report said.

Touching upon the crisis in Syria, Morsi stated that Egypt "will stand together with its Syrian brothers until the brutal [Syrian] regime leaves them alone."

He also said that talks within the scope of an Egypt-led initiative -- dubbed the Middle East Quartet, bringing Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Egypt together -- to seek a solution to the 18-month Syrian crisis will continue.

Morsi also praised Turkey's democratic achievements under the AK Party government as a source of inspiration for the Middle East.

"I cannot hide my admiration over these achievements and convey you the admiration of all Egyptian people," said Morsi. "Egypt wants to live in peace in regards to its foreign policy, primarily with Turkish people and their government. I want to express now that we'll continue this path of no intervention in anyone's internal affairs, and by not letting anyone interfere in our internal affairs."

The Egyptian president expressed the sympathy of the Egyptian people with Turkey, mentioning Egypt's own democratic revolution leading to the ouster of the decades-old Hosni Mubarak dictatorship last February.

Morsi is the first democratically elected president of Egypt.

According to analysts, Morsi's visit to Turkey is a sign of flourishing relations between Turkey and Egypt.

Among other foreign guests at the congress were Kyrgyzstan's President Almazbek Atambayev, Hamas leader Khaled al-Mashaal, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, Sudan's Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister İrsen Küçük, Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, former Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Haris Silajdzic, former Lebanese President Amine Gemayel, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, former Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Sha'ath and Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov.

Arif Keskin, a prominent Middle East analyst, said that Turkey seeks to achieve with Egypt "what it could not do with Iran." That is, establishing a regional alliance to address many issues, including the Syrian crisis, Arab Spring developments and the Palestinian question.

"Morsi-led Egypt does not see itself as close to powers like Saudi Arabia or Iran. The Muslim Brotherhood administration in Egypt sees Turkey's achievements as an example, given Turkey's good ties with the West. And Egypt is a good alternative for Turkey, given the current tensions between Turkey and its Middle Eastern neighbors Iran and Iraq," he asserted.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with the Egyptian president on Monday. Erdogan said that Cairo and Ankara intend to enhance economic and political relations, Anadolu news agency reported.

Erdogan said that Egypt and Turkey have much in common, and it will allow to develop bilateral relations rapidly.

Erdogan also said in October Cairo will host a meeting of the Supreme Council of the strategic cooperation between the two countries, in which Turkey will be represented by 13 ministers.

President Mursi signed a loan agreement with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan after giving the speech at the AK Party event.

Turkey has agreed a $1 billion loan for Egypt, the state-run Egyptian MENA news agency reported.

The borrowing is the first tranche of a total reported $2 billion Turkish aid package for Cairo.

After the revolution of 2011, the Arab Gulf countries and especially Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have pledged significant financial support to Egypt to reform its social and economic spheres.