CAIRO - Egypt's Prime Minister Hisham Qandil has said on Sunday that "mutual benefit" is the only way to maintain the country's bilateral relations with Turkey, expressing gratitude to Ankara for supporting Egypt's January 25 Revolution. "This support has not only been emotional, but also financial," Qandil said, referring to a loan agreement worth $1 billion with Ankara, signed during President Mohammed Morsi's visit to the Turkey in September. Attending the Egyptian-Turkish business forum in Cairo on Sunday with his visiting Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyeb Erdogan, Qandil said that Turkey had offered Egypt a credit line worth $1 billion. Last week, the Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced that Ankara had offered Cairo $500 million. Erdogan said on Sunday that the other $500 million will be delivered by early next year. Erdogan arrived in Cairo on Saturday on a two-day visit. On the first day, he delivered a public speech at Cairo University and also had talks with President Morsi. As he appeared onstage, hundreds of Egyptian attendees began to applaud and chant slogans of welcome, reflecting their love and respect for the Turkish Premier. The phrases 'Masr wa Turkiya Eed Wahda' (Egypt and Turkey are one hand) and ‘Allahu Akbar' (God is Great) rocked the Grand Festival Hall at Cairo University, founded in 1908, where Erdogan gave his speech. US President Barack Obama gave his famous speech 'A New Beginning', in the same university in June 2009. "I congratulate you, the youth, for your revolution. The hearts of the Turkish people were with you during those days. We will stand by you today and tomorrow, based on our historical relations," Erdogan told the attendees. Then he recited a verse from the Holy Qur'an in Arabic, which reads in English: "So do not weaken or do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are true believers." (Al-Emran, verse 139). "We in Turkey and you and other nations should remember this and keep it in our hearts and minds," he said, adding a popular slogan which Egyptians chanted proudly during the revolution, "Raise your head high, you are Egyptian." After he'd uttered the slogan in Arabic, all the attendees repeated it loudly and enthusiastically. During his visit, Erdogan signed 27 agreements covering various fields including tourism, culture and trade. He was accompanied by ten ministers and 350 businessmen, who on Sunday met with their Egyptian counterparts working in the fields of construction and contracting, machinery, cement, iron and steel, chemicals, wood and forestry products, mining, electricity, durable consumer goods, cosmetic products, readymade clothing, textiles, finance, cars, LPG and petroleum, minerals, flour, olives and olive oil, dried fruits, electronic systems, carpets, foodstuffs, transportation, tourism and hotels. "Turkey and Egypt are strong countries in the region. We insist on supporting Egypt. We will together guarantee peace in the region," he stressed. Erdogan talked to the audience about the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. He described the Egyptian revolution as a glimmer of hope, not just for Egyptians themselves but for Palestinians too. He praised President Morsi for recalling the Egyptian Ambassador from Tel Aviv, in response to Israel's attacks. At the end of his speech, he referred again to the Egyptian youth and their role in developing the country. "We put our hope and trust in you. You are the future of Egypt," he said. Then he and the President of Cairo University exchanged mementoes, to yet more tumultuous applause.
