CAIRO (AA) – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent statements about Ahmed al-Tayeb, grand imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar, had been "misunderstood," Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Huseyin Avni Botsali said Thursday.
Speaking at a meeting with a high-profile Al-Azhar delegation at the Turkish embassy in Cairo, Botsali said: "The status of Al-Azhar is sacred in Turkey."
He added that earlier remarks by Erdogan about the grand imam had been "misunderstood."
Last month, the Turkish premier had reportedly criticized al-Tayeb's stated support for the Egyptian army's July 3 ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi following mass protests against the latter's administration.
Botsali said that Turkish authorities had been briefed about the Azhar's criticisms of Erdogan's statements, stressing that "they have affirmed their respect for Al-Azhar," considered the highest seat of learning in the Sunni-Muslim world.
"The Azhar's status is sacred for us as it's sacred for Azharites," Botsali said.
The Turkish ambassador added that Egypt-Turkey relations were "stronger than whirlwinds," going on to predict an improvement in bilateral ties, "thanks to the Azhar's cooperation."
Botsali said he had asked to meet with al-Tayeb "in order to clear the air."
"Our region is facing major dangers," he said. "And Egypt and Turkey will bear the brunt of these dangers."
The Turkish diplomat stressed that his country stood by the "Egyptian people" rather than by a single party.
"Turkish support for Egypt will continue, especially in the current circumstances," Bostali said, going on to stress that recent Turkish projects in Egypt were "for the Egyptian people, not a particular party."
According to the ambassador, Erdogan had been the first Turkish premier to meet with Al-Azhar's grand imam.
The envoy added that, even though his term had formally ended on June 30, he nevertheless had remained at his post as "a message to the Egyptian people that relations between Egypt and Turkey were robust."
By Sobhi Mujahed – Anadolu Agency
