Erdogan receives Somali President in Ankara
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received his Somali counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud on Wednesday at the presidential compound in Ankara.
According to the official news site TRT News, an official reception was held in the compound square, beginning with the playing of the two countries national anthems and then greeting the military honor roll of the two countries’ leaders and their respective delegations.
Following the official welcoming ceremony, Erdogan and his Somali guest headed into the compound to begin their bilateral meeting.
In a brief statement, the Somali presidency said, “Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and his accompanying delegation at the Presidential Palace in Ankara”.
“The Somali president is currently attending a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the presidential palace to discuss bilateral relations and joint issues”, the statement said.
Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud is visiting Turkey, his second foreign trip since his election in mid-May.
Before the official reception, the Somali president visited his country’s soldiers receiving military training in the southwestern Turkish state of Isparta.
Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur said in a tweet that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud visited with a delegation accompanying Somali soldiers in Sparta, Turkey.
He added: “Our president Hassan Sheik Mahmoud visited the Somali soldiers trained by the Turkish army in Isparta”.
“The Somali army is the greatest guarantor of the state”, he said.
