Sarajevo, 6 September 2022 (TDI): The President of the Republic of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, on Tuesday.
President @RTErdogan has arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital city of Sarajevo, the first stop of its Balkan tour covering Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia. pic.twitter.com/Wpy73zzksE
— Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye (@trpresidency) September 6, 2022
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is on an official tour to the Balkan States. Moreover, Emine Erdoğan, the first lady of Turkiye is also accompanying the President on the visit. Along with Bosnia and Herzegovina, they will also be visiting Serbia and Croatia.
Agenda of the Visit
According to an official statement released by the Turkish Presidency, the main agenda of the President’s visit is to efforts in resolving the political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Moreover, the Turkish President will meet officials of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and review the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Further, he will also visit the tomb of the late Alija Izetbegovic, who was the first President of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina after it became an independent state.
Also Read: Telephone conversation between Presidents of Turkiye, Russia
Turkish President’s Press Conference
Before beginning his Visit, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan held a press conference at the Esenboga Airport, Ankara, Turkiye. He affirmed Turkiye’s support for Balkan states at the conference.
President Erdoğan stated, “This year, we mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.”
He further added, “We as Türkiye follow a policy that supports the Balkans’ stability, development, and their integration process with Euro-Atlantic organizations.”
President Erdogan also stated that “We strongly maintain our relations with this region, with which we have long-standing historical, social, and cultural ties, while also working to prevent tensions.”
He emphasized that “We support the development of the Balkan region through projects carried out by the Cooperation and Coordination Agency of Turkiye, the Yunus Emre Institute, the Maarif Foundation, the Turkish Airlines, and municipalities.”
The President also highlighted that “During all my meetings, I will underscore our support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is vital for the Balkan region’s peace and stability.”
