Egypt cancels Erdogan meeting over coup comments; Turkey denies meeting ever scheduled

Egypt cancels Erdogan meeting over coup comments; Turkey denies meeting ever scheduled. (Alahram).

An advisor to the Turkish president has denied Egyptian media reports that the countries' leaders were planning to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry cancelled a bilateral meeting requested by Turkey after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a speech critical of Egypt, according to a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry.

Egypt earlier said it had accepted a request for a meeting with Turkish official to discuss strained relations between the two countries.

Egypt strongly condemned Erdogan`s speech at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday and criticised his failure to recognise that the 30 June 2013 protests against Islamist president Mohamed Morsi reflected the will of the Egyptian people.

During his speech, Erdogan said Egypt's democratically elected president was overthrown in a coup, and that the UN had chosen to legitimise the coup leader — a reference to current president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

"We should respect the choice of the people at the ballot box. If we want to support coups... then why does the United Nations exist?" he said.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian statement said the Turkish president was "keen to spread chaos and division in the Middle East by supporting politically and funding terrorist groups for his own interests."

It also said Erdogan had violated UN rules by intervening in internal Egyptian affairs, and therefore Shoukry had decided to cancel the bilateral meeting scheduled for Thursday.

Bilateral ties between Egypt and Turkey have significantly worsened since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.

Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood had strong relations with Turkish authorities during his presidency.

Erdogan:There was a coup in Egypt & the person did coup d’etat is being legitimatized. — (Sisi just met w Pres Obama. Erdogan hits US)
— ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) September 24, 2014

Erdogan, Feb 2014: 'Turkey will never accept military rule in Egypt’ Erdogan, Sept 2014 sent his FM 2 ask a mtg from Egypt, they meet today
— ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) September 24, 2014

Update: Yes we (Turkey) Lie!

Clearer copy of alleged request sent by Turkey to meet Egypt Foreign Minister in NY. V @SamirOmarSky pic.twitter.com/iSl6rh3U0x
— The Big Pharaoh (@TheBigPharaoh) September 27, 2014