Istanbul could soon start a project of restoring Sarajevo's landmark White Fortress, Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, said during a meeting with Sarajevo’s Benjamina Karic on Thursday.

According to a press release by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Imamoglu requested support for the restoration of the Ottoman era building.

Karic said that the White Fortress “has a special place in the hearts of Sarajevans.”

“It's time for Sarajevo and Istanbul to do good things together,” she said.

Imamoglu is an opposition politician in Turkey who took to the post of mayor in 2019.

He visited Sarajevo after he took over the post, but did not meet with the mayor at the time, Abdulah Skaka.

“As you know, I was in Sarajevo. But at that time we could not meet with the mayor of Sarajevo. We asked for it, but it did not happen. I hope to visit Sarajevo during your term,” Imamoglu told Karic.

“Our doors are always open. I promise this,” she responded.

“The citizens of Sarajevo have very special feelings for Istanbul,” Karic said, adding that Istanbul and Sarajevo are sister cities.