Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Sarajevo shortly before noon on Sunday for a working visit and headed immediately from the airport, under heavy security measures, to the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina for talks with a state delegation, led by Presidency chairman Bakir Izetbegovic.

Even before Erdogan’s arrival, thousands of Turks came to Sarajevo to attend a day long rally, organised by Erdogan’s lobbying organisation, the Union of European Turkish Democrats, UETD.

The rally, which is officially being held as an annual assembly, is in fact considered the central election rally for the Turkish diaspora.

The convention will take place in Sarajevo’s reconstructed 20,000-capacity Olympic hall, known as Zetra, where 10,000 to 15,000 people are expected.

Germany, Austria and the Netherlands have all announced that they will not allow Turkish politicians to conduct election campaigning in their territories, citing public order concerns.

Turkey will go to early parliamentary and presidential elections on June 24, a year-and-a-half ahead of schedule.

Erdogan arrived in Sarajevo accompanied by his wife Emina.