Ambassador Şen: ‘Turkey will continue its humanitarian and food aid to Gaza in collaboration with Egypt’

Turkey’s Ambassador to Cairo Salih Mutlu Şen hosted Egyptian and Turkish journalists for breakfast as part of Turkish Cuisine Week. Ambassador Şen stated, “Turkey will continue its humanitarian and food aid to Gaza in cooperation with Egypt.” Turkish breakfast was organized at the Turkish Embassy in Cairo within the framework of Turkish Cuisine Week. Various high-level Turkish journalists who came from Turkey also attended the event. Ambassador Salih Mutlu Şen, during the second edition of the breakfast event, welcomed the Egyptian journalists and provided information about the characteristics of Turkish breakfast, emphasizing its importance as the most significant meal in Turkish culture. Ambassador Şen expressed that Turkish breakfast offers a healthy and delicious alternative suitable for modern life. He highlighted the developing relations between Turkey and Egypt in the fields of tourism, economy, trade, industry, sports, and culture, pointing out that the presence of the Turkish press delegation in the hall serves as an example of this relationship.
Referring to Turkey’s participation with a 50-member sports delegation at the U23 Mediterranean Games in Ismailia two days ago, Ambassador Şen mentioned that the Turkish sports delegation was 2-3 times larger than other delegations, indicating the eagerness and interest of Turkish athletes in coming to Egypt. Ambassador Salih Mutlu Şen recalled that just a day before, Turkish and Egyptian composers’ joint works were performed at the Cairo Opera House in the field of culture. He also mentioned his participation in the Egypt Africa Tourism Forum organized and supported by a Turkish hotel in Sharm El-Sheikh the day before. Ambassador Şen emphasized the significance of breakfast as the most important service provided to tourists in the Turkish and Egyptian tourism sectors.
“95% of humanitarian aid to Gaza enters through Egypt” Ambassador Salih Mutlu Şen, in his speech, touched upon Turkey-Egypt cooperation on Gaza, stating that “Turkey will continue its humanitarian and food aid to Gaza in cooperation with Egypt.” He mentioned that due to a temporary deterioration in the security situation at the border, shipments to Gaza have stalled, and there is no alternative to Egypt for humanitarian aid, particularly food shipments. Ambassador Şen reminded that the United Nations authorities have stated that 95% of humanitarian aid, especially food, entering Gaza has come through Egypt via the Rafah Crossing. He expressed hope for an improvement in the security situation so that humanitarian aid from Egypt to Gaza can resume. Ambassador Şen attributed the worsening security situation to Israel’s Refah operation initiated despite all warnings, emphasizing that the immediate withdrawal of Israel from the illegally occupied Rafah Crossing by Palestine is essential, which is a demand of both Turkey and Egypt.
“Many prominent families in Egypt spend the majority of their lives in Turkey” Ambassador Şen, in his statement to Ihlas News Agency, highlighted the historical relations between Turkey and Egypt, stating that a significant part of the culture and language exchange between the two countries dates back to the era of Mehmet Ali Pasha in the 19th century. Ambassador Şen mentioned that many families came to Egypt during that period, leading to the influence of Turkish cuisine, language, traditions, and religious holidays in Egypt. He stated that there are common expressions used both in Turkish and Egyptian Arabic, such as ‘bey,’ ‘efendi,’ ‘hanımefendi,’ ‘abi,’ ‘abla,’ and even military terms like ‘yüzbaşı,’ ‘binbaşı.’ Ambassador Şen emphasized the similarity in culinary traditions between the two countries, noting that many individuals of Turkish origin are present in Egypt, with a significant part of prominent Egyptian families historically spending a considerable portion of their lives in Turkey.
Ambassador Şen underscored the importance of cuisine in promoting and developing cultural ties between Turkey and Egypt, emphasizing its role in tourism. He mentioned that Egyptians express a special love for Turkish culture, cuisine, and tourism. Ambassador Şen highlighted the mutual respect and shared cultural heritage between the two nations, encouraging visits to historical sites and monuments that reflect this common heritage. He emphasized the ease of obtaining visas and the reciprocal interest in tourism between the two countries, noting the unique cultural and historical sites in Egypt that Turkish visitors can explore.
“There are many places in Egypt that must be seen” Ambassador Şen mentioned the presence of significant Sufi figures in Egypt, urging visits to their graves and shrines, such as Seyyid Ahmed Bedevi and Ibrahim Desuki. He also highlighted the lesser-known tomb of Kaygusuz Abdal in Cairo, an important figure in Turkish cultural history. Ambassador Şen concluded by recommending the exploration of Egypt’s diverse historical sites and spiritual landmarks, expressing the belief that cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between Turkish and Egyptian people contribute to a more beautiful and harmonious relationship.