Maritime conventions between Egypt and Turkey remain standing despite the ongoing political row between the two countries, Ibrahim Said El-Demery, the Egyptian Minister of Transport, said in press statement on Wednesday. "Egypt is committed to implementing agreements with Turkey despite the strained relations between both countries," El-Demery was quoted as saying by Al-Ahram Arabic news website. The minister added that the Ministry of Transport only cancels agreements upon requests by states or companies which do not want to deal with the ministry. El-Demery stressed that, "Turkey is the only loser from the cancellation of maritime conventions with Egypt." On 11 June, both countries signed an agreement that facilitates the passage of Turkish cargo through Egypt to markets in the Arab Gulf. The two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in railway development in Nov 2012. The Egyptian Commercial Service recently issued a report stating that Turkey was the fifth largest market for Egyptian exports by the end of 2012. Egyptian-Turkish relations have been strained since the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi on 3 July. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister, has condemned on several occasions what he described as a "military coup" after the mass protests on 30 June. Erdogan has condemned the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed El-Tayyeb, for "siding with the coup leaders" in a speech at the University Development Foundation on Sunday.
