Zagreb Under Blockade: Erdogan Arrives Today

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is arriving this afternoon for a return official visit to Croatia. Immediately upon arrival, he will lay a wreath at the Wall of Pain at Mirogoj, and then head to Pantovčak where President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović will host him with a ceremonial welcome at 5 PM, reports the Patria News Agency.

Following the talks between the two presidents, and then a meeting of the delegations of the two countries, statements to the media by President Grabar-Kitarović and President Erdogan are expected.

During his two-day visit to Zagreb, Erdogan will discuss bilateral relations with the highest Croatian officials, particularly strengthening economic cooperation, and will participate in the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Islam in Croatia.

Both countries attach great importance to the visit, as evidenced by the composition of the Turkish delegation. Ministers of Justice, European Affairs, Economy, Energy, Culture, and Tourism, as well as more than 90 businessmen for an economic forum, are arriving in Zagreb.

Turkish investments in Croatia amount to 213 million euros, mostly in tourism and energy, specifically bioenergy plants. Although they represent less than one percent of total investments in Croatia, Turkish investments are typically greenfield investments.

On Wednesday, the two presidents will attend the Croatian-Turkish Economic Forum organized by the Croatian Chamber of Economy. Erdogan is also expected to meet with the Speaker of the Parliament Željko Reiner and Prime Minister Tihomir Orešković.

In the afternoon, a ceremonial academy will be held at the Croatian National Theatre on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the recognition of Islam as a traditional religion in Croatia. As Croatian authorities often emphasize, there is no better integrated minority in Europe than the Muslim community in Croatia.

Erdogan will conclude his visit to Croatia by opening the Turkish Cultural Center in the center of Zagreb. His visit to the Croatian capital is accompanied by exceptional security measures and special traffic regulations.

On the occasion of the Turkish president's arrival, the police also published instructions for citizens regarding the special traffic regulations that will be in effect.

"We inform citizens that from Monday, April 25th, in the evening hours until Wednesday, April 27th, in the evening hours, special traffic regulations will be in effect on certain streets of the City of Zagreb and the city of Velika Gorica leading from MZLZ "Franjo Tuđman" to the central part of the City of Zagreb, on the routes leading to the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia, on Pantovčak street, in the area of the Mirogoj City Cemetery, in the area of Gornji and Donji Grad, in the area of the Croatian National Theatre, the "Esplanade" hotel, the "Westin" hotel, and the Zagreb Islamic Center," writes Index.