Erdogan on Alija Izetbegović: I remember a brave soldier on the battlefields and a wise leader of his people to independence!

(Patria) - The President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, sent a message on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the death of Alija Izetbegović, the first president of the Presidency of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- On the anniversary of his death, I remember Alija Izetbegović with longing and mercy, a brave soldier on the battlefields, a wise leader who led his people to independence, the first president of brotherly Bosnia and Herzegovina, a man of ideas - stated Erdogan's message published on social networks.

Alija Izetbegović passed away on this day in 2003 from heart failure.

According to estimates, more than 100,000 people attended the final farewell of Alija Izetbegović, as well as a large number of Bosnian-Herzegovinian and international officials.

It is assumed that this was the largest number of people who ever attended a funeral prayer in Sarajevo.