Turkish President Abdullah Gul will visit Bosnia-Herzegovina from Sept. 2-3 as tensions rise in the country ahead of October general elections. Turkey has used precisely this instability to enhance its position as a mediator to the region. The goal for Turkey is to show Europe that without Turkish involvement there will be no resolution to the Balkan security problems. However, Turkey has to walk a thin line between anchoring its influence among the Muslim populations of the Balkans and presenting itself as a fair arbiter between all sides, while also taking care to manage its image in the West, where it has recently been criticized for relying too much on its Islamic credentials for leadership.
