Erdoğan arrives in Germany for first state visit

Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived at Germany’s Tegel Airport in Berlin on Thursday for his first state visit as president.

Erdoğan was welcomed by senior German officials, and was welcomed by an honor guard and a 21-gun salute.

The president is accompanied by First Lady Emine Erdoğan, Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank, National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Customs and Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın, Presidential Communication Chief Fahrettin Altun and Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesman Ömer Çelik.

During his three-day visit, Erdoğan will meet his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier and will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

He is scheduled to meet with representatives of the Turkish community and the CEOs of major German companies, separately.

Developments in Syria, cooperation in addressing the refugee crisis and economic and trade relations between Turkey and Germany will be among the topics on the agenda.

EU heavyweight Germany remains Turkey’s main economic and trade partner. In 2017, bilateral trade volume reached €37.6 billion ($43.6 billion).

German authorities have raised security measures to the highest level, 1 , in Berlin’s city center ahead of Erdoğan’s visit.

Berlin police announced Thursday that around 4,200 police officers would be deployed in Berlin to ensure the security during the visit.

Main streets in government district were closed as part of the security arrangements.

Following his official meetings in Berlin, Erdoğan will travel on Saturday to the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which has a large Turkish immigrant population.

In Cologne, Erdoğan will attend the inauguration ceremony of Cologne Central Mosque, run by Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs.