CAIRO: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyeb Erdogan delivered a speech for Egyptians from the Cairo Opera House on Tuesday. "You took a good step and you will get to vote and choose a new regime and Egypt will become a newborn after these elections," Erdogan said. He noted the constitutional amendments prove Egyptians are ready for democracy. "Tahrir Square became synonymous to combat, freedom and democracy," Erdogan added. He offered his condolences to families of the martyrs' who were killed along the Egyptian-Israeli border. The audience, with a great number of members from the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), warmly responded to the speech, especially when the Turkish Prime Minister quoted Quranic verses and Prophetic Hadiths. The attendants chanted, "Egypt and Turkey; one hand," and "Oh leader Erdogan, unify the Muslims." Although Erdogan reached the Cairo Opera House two hours late, the audience warmly welcomed Erdogan. He opened his speech, "Egypt is the home of Moses and Joseph, it is also the mother of the world. Egypt is the center of the old Islamic civilization and the minaret of science and knowledge due to Al-Azhar University. Egypt became the voice of an the Egyptian Quran orator, Abdel Samad, and Egyptian singer, Om Kalthoum." Erdogan highlighted Egypt is Turkey's partner. With his speech, he drove the audience to break into applause chanting, "Islamic Nation." Commenting on the changes in the Middle East, Erdogan said it witnesses historical, democratic and revolutionary reversal. He added the current period will safely pass with strong concentration on the future. The Turkish Prime Minister personified the Egyptian Youth with Mehmed II, who was known as the conqueror. He then praised the Tunisian youth, like Mohammad Bo Azizi, who sacrificing themselves for freedom. He described those youth as representatives of a revival wave, which expanded throughout the Middle East. Erdogan pointed out any administration that doesn't understand its peoples' will is an illegitimate administration. Erdogan said Turkey sent Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain a message to make change. "The peoples' demands should be met and freedom should never be postponed. In the end, we are all human, everyone will die and be buried in a 2-meter grave.” In his speech, Erdogan also put focus on Turkish-Egyptian cooperation in economics and trade volume between both countries, which was U.S. $60 million five years ago, and now U.S. $4 billion. Turkey is ready to help Egypt's economy in this period. Erdogan highlighted the importance of exporting Egyptian gas to Turkey to open new horizons in the Middle East. He added Egypt will be Africa's key to Turkey and to Europe. During his speech, two Syrians were among the audience, lifting a sign that said, "Bashar is killing us." However, security guards spoke with them for more than 50 minutes, telling them to put the sign down but their efforts were in vain. Later the two Syrians, "A revolution in Syria, where is Turkey?" The security guards again took them out the hall. Erdogan said Turkey provided Syria the support and assistance but there are much human causality in Syria. He continued, "We cannot trust al-Assad since Syrians do not trust him.” Erdogan noted there are foreign powers supporting the sectarian sets in Syria and he previously warned Syrians of these powers and keep their eyes on Syria.
