UPDATE - Turkish president in Croatia on last leg of 3-nation Balkan tour

ADDS ISLAMIC CULTURE CENTER OPENING CEREMONY

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday was welcomed with an official ceremony in Croatia's capital Zagreb, the last stop of his three-nation Balkan tour.

Erdogan and his Croatian counterpart Zoran Milanovic held one-on-one talks and inter-delegation meetings, followed by a joint news conference.

During the talks, all aspects of bilateral relations will be reviewed and steps to enhance cooperation on various areas will be discussed. Developments in the Balkans and international issues will also be on the agenda.

Erdogan later opened the Islamic Culture Center in the central city of Sisak.

"I believe this center will become one of the major meeting and interaction places, where our friends from other religions will also spend time together," he said during the opening ceremony.

Erdogan said Croatia is among the countries set as an example in Europe in terms of the freedom, respect and peace provided to Muslims.

"In our hearts, we do not distinguish the city of Sisak from Amasya, Petrinja from Bursa, Zagreb from Ankara, Sarajevo from Istanbul, and Mostar from Rize," he added.

After the wreath laying ceremony at the Homeland Monument in Zagreb, Erdogan will receive Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. Later, he will attend the Türkiye-Croatia Business Forum and official dinner hosted by Milanovic.

Erdogan on Tuesday started his three-nation Balkan tour with Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by Serbia.

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