Turkish President Erdogan arrives in Paraguay

By Lokman Ilhan

ASUNCION

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Paraguay on Sunday as part of his official tour to Latina America.

Erdogan and first lady Emine Erdogan were welcomed by Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez and his wife Silvana Lopez Moreira Bo with an official ceremony at Lopez Presidential Palace in the capital Asuncion.

Many Turkish citizens living in Paraguay gathered in front of the presidential palace and chanted slogans welcoming the Turkish leader.

Erdogan and Benitez proceeded with the head-to-head meeting following the official ceremony.

This was the second destination of Erdogan's Latin America tour as he is scheduled to visit Venezuela on Monday.

Erdogan's trips to Paraguay and Venezuela mark the first-ever by a Turkish president.

He was in Argentina to attend the G20 summit in the capital Buenos Aires on Friday and Saturday.

The Turkish president met eight heads of state and government on the sidelines of the two-day summit.