Turkish President Erdogan arrives in Bosnia and Herzegovina for talks

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of his three-day Balkan tour to strengthen regional ties.

In the first leg of his visit, Erdogan was officially welcomed in Sarajevo.

The president will hold one-on-one and inter-delegation meetings with the three-member Presidential Council of Bosnia-Herzegovina. They include Zeljko Komsic, Croat member and current chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serb member Milorad Dodik and Bosniak member Sefik Dzaferovic.

Erdogan will later meet members of the House of Representatives and the House of Peoples of Parliamentary Assembly, the highest legislative bodies in the country.

He will also visit the grave of Alija Izetbegovic, the first Bosniak president of the country who died in 2003.

The Turkish leader is also expected to attend a business forum and visit the new building of the Islamic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Before heading to Sarajevo, Erdogan said Türkiye pursues a policy that supports stability and development of the Balkans and its integration process into Euro-Atlantic structures.

"We will be endeavoring to find a solution to the political crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina during our visit," he said.

The Balkans is a priority for Türkiye not only for political, economic, and geographical reasons, but also due to its historical, cultural, and human ties with the region.

After Bosnia and Herzegovina, Erdogan will visit Serbia and Croatia, respectively.