Turkish intelligence chief met Egypt’s Morsi shortly before military coup: Foreign minister

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Ahmet Dauvtoğlu made an interview on Aug. 21 with private broadcaster Kanal 24. AA photo

The head of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) met with Egypt’s toppled President Mohamed Morsi around 10 days before the military takeover, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said Aug. 21.  
 
He said that intelligence chief Hakan Fidan had been tasked by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and also met with security officials as Ankara considered the developments in Egypt as "critical." 

“I’m making it public for the first time: We are carrying out a secret diplomacy even at this moment [to meet with Morsi],” Davutoğlu told the private broadcaster Kanal 24.

The foreign minister rejected accusations that Turkey has taken sides with Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, saying “what matters is not the Muslim Brotherhood for us, but rather the existence of a legitimate administration in Egypt.”

About a possible Turkish mediation to resolve the crisis in Egypt, Davutoğlu said “in the absence of contact between the sides, mediation is not possible.”
 
He added Turkey had been working day and night to convince all foreign ministers in the world to step into action. “If we do not stop it now, Egypt will witness more deaths than Syria,” he said.
 
Criticism over Mubarak's release

Davutoğlu also criticized the court ruling on former strongman Hosni Mubarak’s release.
 
“The release of Mubarak while Morsi is still detained will reverse the whole process,” he said, adding that Turkey would not meet the current administration without being authorized to hold talks with Morsi.
 
Turkey maintained a harsh rhetoric against the military coup, calling repeatedly for Morsi’s immediate release. The ousted president has been held in custody in an undisclosed location since July 3.