This was the first time Erdoğan has been seen after a successful medical procedure on his digestive tract on Saturday.
Turkey's EU affairs minister and chief EU negotiator, Egemen Bağış, visited the prime minister an hour before Erdoğan had his private meeting with Izetbegovic. Bağış commented on Erdoğan's health, saying, “We saw the prime minister at his home in good health.”
Izetbegovic, expressing his views on Erdoğan upon being welcomed by President Abdullah Gül at the Çankaya presidential palace on Tuesday, said: “Recep Tayyip Erdoğan does not only belong to you Turks. He is a shared value of us all. The prayers of a billion [Muslims], including 2 million Bosniaks, are with Erdoğan.”
During a joint conference with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on Wednesday, Izetbegovic, commenting on the formation of the government in Bosnia following 16 months of political uncertainty that followed the October 2010 elections, stated that the political situation is now much improved in the country.
A statement released by the Foreign Ministry last Friday said Turkey wishes the new Bosnian government luck in realizing necessary economic reforms, reiterating its support for Bosnia and Herzegovina in all its endeavors. The statement said Turkey attaches great importance to relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina for helping to create lasting peace and stability in the Balkans, adding that Turkey will continue to closely cooperate with the Balkan country for the prosperity and security of the Bosnian people.
