Turkish president: Ankara aids all friends from Balkans to Caucasus PHOTO

Türkiye is always ready to support the people of the Balkan region, which was also manifested in the elimination of the consequences of the flood in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the earthquake in Albania, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

Erdogan noted that over the past 21 years, the Turkish authorities have been making efforts to get closer to the residents of the Balkan countries, some of whom are Evlad-ı Fatihan (descendants of immigrants from the Ottoman Empire), Caliber.Az reports per the president’s Twitter.

Türkiye gibi bir vatanımız, Türkiye gibi bir yuvamız olduğu için Allah'a ne kadar şükretsek azdır.

Türkiye; Çerkes’i, Tatar’ı, Gagavuz’u, Arnavut’u, Pomak’ı, Boşnak’ı, Türkmen’i, Ahıska’sı, Özbek’i, Uygur’uyla tarih boyunca dara düşen her kardeşine eman ve esenlik yurdu oldu.… pic.twitter.com/aMLvYPplum

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) May 23, 2023

The politician assured that the leadership of Türkiye will continue to preserve the legacy of Alija Izetbegović, the first president of independent Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the period after the second round of the presidential elections on May 28.

“We are grateful to the Almighty for the Motherland called Türkiye. Our country at all times has opened doors for brothers in trouble: Circassians, Tatars, Gagauzians, Albanians, Bosniaks, Turkmans, Ahiska Turks, Uzbeks and Uighurs,” the Turkish president wrote on Twitter.

He stressed that Türkiye is present "everywhere, there are Turkish citizens and compatriots."

“Ankara came to the aid of all friends, from the Balkans to the Caucasus, restoring and developing ties with countries that share a common history, language, religion and culture with Türkiye. By creating the Organisation of Turkic States, we further strengthened our ties with the Turkic republics. Together with our native Azerbaijan, we liberated Karabakh after 30 years of occupation,” Erdogan added.

Türkiye pays particular attention to its ties to the Balkans, as a result of its geopolitical proximity and historical and cultural ties.

Ankara has played a significant role in promoting the involvement of Balkan countries in NATO, including support for Macedonia’s successful bid to join the alliance.