Ankara will soon have its own 'Tahrir Square'

The Egyptian Embassy in Ankara has contacted the Ankara Municipality to ask about naming a square in the capital "Tahrir Square," after the symbol of the Egyptian revolution.

"Very soon, you will have Tahrir Square in Ankara, with the help of the Ankara Municipality," Egyptian Ambassador to Ankara Abderahman Salaheldin told a group of reporters on Thursday. The ambassador said they had not pointed to a specific park but just made a suggestion, which had not yet been decided on by the municipality.

Salaheldin also announced that maritime transportation between Turkey’s Mersin and Egypt’s Alexandria would begin soon. "Soon we will be operating at least the first line," he said.

The Egyptian envoy said business was getting back to normal in his country after the revolution as it was now heading to parliamentary elections in September and presidential elections two or three months afterward. He emphasized that the upcoming era would see close cooperation between Turkey and Egypt.

Salaheldin said every country was unique with its own characteristics but added that Egypt could provide a good example in the region for those who want change. He also said his country welcomed increasing Turkish interest in "its own backyard."

"This is something welcomed by Egypt quite some time ago, not only recently."

The envoy praised Turkish President Abdullah Gül as the first head of state who visited his country after the revolution and thanked Turkish efforts for the evacuation of Egyptians from crisis-hit Libya.


/Hurriyet Daily News/