By Saduman Turkay
ANKARA (AA) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan departed for Albania on Thursday, kicking off a two-day Balkan tour that also includes Serbia.
Erdogan left Ankara's Esenboga Airport at 9.55 a.m. local time (0655GMT) on the presidential plane. He was accompanied by his wife Emine Erdogan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and other senior officials.
In the Albanian capital, Erdogan will inaugurate the Grand Mosque of Tirana, also known as Namazgah Mosque, in a ceremony which the Balkan nation's Prime Minister Edi Rama is also expected to attend.
Erdogan's visits in the region are expected to include a comprehensive review of bilateral relations with both countries.
*Writing by Yasin Gungor