Turkey and Egypt have started diplomatic-level contacts after years-long diplomatic crises between two countries, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu announced on Friday.

“Neither we nor Egypt put forward any preconditions. Having a lack of trust is also normal in such situations and may exist for both parties. Therefore, negotiations occur and continue under a certain strategy, road map,” Çavuşoğlu said in an interview with the Turkish state-owned Anadolu Agency.

“We have contacts both at the level of intelligence and foreign ministries with Egypt. Diplomatic-level contacts have started,” Çavuşoğlu stated.

Egypt–Turkey relations have strongly deteriorated in the period following the overthrow of the Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi on 3 July 2013 following a 48-hour deadline on 1 July, marking the end of anti-government protests that took place between 30 June and 3 July that year.

On 23 November 2013, the Egyptian government expelled the Turkish ambassador in Cairo after a months-long diplomatic crisis. (ILKHA)