UPDATE - Turkish President Erdogan departs for Albania as Balkans tour commences

UPDATES WITH DETAILS FROM TIRANA, REVISES HEADLINE

By Saduman Turkay and Talha Ozturk

ANKARA / BELGRADE (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.

Several of Tirana's streets were decorated with Turkish and Albanian flags ahead of Erdogan's visit.

In addition to the route Erdogan will take during his visit, as well as the city's Mother Teresa Square, flags also decorate the Tirana Namazgah Mosque, which will be the largest mosque in the Balkans.

Following his contacts in Albania, Erdogan will move on to the Serbian capital Belgrade later on Thursday.

*Writing by Yasin Gungor