World congratulates Turkey's Erdogan on election win

ANKARA

Congratulatory messages have been flooding in since Monday for Turkey's outgoing PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan who was elected to a five-year term as president in the country's first directly elected presidential poll.

Secretariat of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation sent congratulary message to Erdogan on Wednesday on his triumph in Turkish presidential election held on Sunday.

Secretary-General of the organization, Seyed Ali Mohammad Mousavi, said in the message: "I write to express my heartfelt felicitations and cordially convey, on behalf of the Secretariat of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation as well as on my behalf, our heartiest congratulations to you and to the great nation of Turkey on the auspicious occasion of your election to the highest office of Presidency of the Republic of Turkey."

He said the election result was a reflection of the Turkish people’s aspirations for a strong leader who would turn Turkey to a stronger position in the world.

"I would like to make particular mention of the fact that with your election in the highest office of the country, I have strong confidence that Turkey’s engagement with the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation will be more intensive than ever before, particularly bearing in mind that Turkey will assume the Chair of the D-8 in the upcoming Summit this year for the second time," he said.

While concluding his remarks, he wished Erdogan health, happiness, and success in his new capacity as the leader of Turkey.

'New responsibility'

In the meantime Recep Tayyip Erdogan's victory in Turkish presidential election had repercussions both in Europe and the U.S.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy congrulated Erdogan, saying: "I'm sure that your new responsibility and your ambition will stregthen ties between Turkey and the EU, as well as those between Spain and Turkey."

German President Joachim Gauck and Chancellor Angela Merkel were also among world leaders congratulating Erdogan.

Merkel sent a congratulatory message to Erdogan on his victory, saying: "At present we have to overcome difficult challenges in the region. Turkey has a great importance in this regard.

"For your responsible tasks, I wish you success, perseverance and strength," she said.

German Minister of State for Europe Michael Roth told SWR2 radio that the elections results showed that "Erdogan will continue to be the strong man of Turkey."

He praised Erdogan for the conciliatory remarks he delivered on Sunday night in which he called for "a new era" and promised social reconciliation.

Roth also added that now they would be expecting Turkish President to turn these words into action to avoid further polarization in the society.

He expressed hope that results could be "a new chance for Turkey to reorient itself towards Europe" and called for giving a fresh impetus for Turkey's EU accession talks with new democratic reforms.

"If Erdogan carries on an interest in a European Turkey - and we have such an interest  - then it is time for turning words into action," Roth said. 

Meanwhile, presidents of Macedonia and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus also sent congratulatory messages to Erdogan.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev conveyed his greetings to Erdogan, according to a statement released by his office.

"Do accept my most sincere congratulations on winning presidency," Plevneliev said.

Kosovan Prime Minister Hashim Thaci told Erdogan that he wished for him success in his new post. 

"The Republic of Kosovo will always remember the role Turkey played in the independence of Kosovo and the support it has given to Kosova's economic and democratic development," he said. 

The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, and President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, also congratulated PM Erdogan.

In a joint statement they said: "Turkey is a key partner for the European Union: a candidate country negotiating EU accession, a neighbor, an important trade partner and a foreign policy ally. We look forward to enhancing our cooperation in all these areas."

Montenegro Islamic Union President Rifat Feyzic told Anadolu Agency that Erdogan's win in the presidential election would have a positive influence on relations between Montenegro and Turkey, as well as the Islamic Union.

"We expect cooperation with Turkey to rise. Turkey is in good relations with all the Balkan countries, including Montenegro, and I hope these relations will continue," said Feyzic.

World media covers Erdogan's convincing election win

German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung ran the headline: "Erdogan elected as Turkey's President," stressing that Erdogan had won the election in the first round.

"The Sultan won," Germany's Bild newspaper said.

The newspaper claimed the election of Erdogan as president paved the way for Turkey to become an authoritarian state.

The BBC covered Erdogan's customary post-victory address, called "the balcony speech," in which he said that those who did not vote for him had also won.

The BBC also reported that the ruling Justice and Development Party should determine a new party leader and prime minister. 

The U.K.'s Financial Times ran the headline: "A milestone for Turkey," saying that Erdogan had left all his previous hostility behind and called for a new constitution during his balcony speech.

British national daily newspaper The Guardian said Erdogan would bring change during his presidency.

Switzerland's Basler Zeitung newspaper cited Erdogan's balcony speech by referring to his desire for "a new era."

Blick emphasized that Erdogan prayed in a historical Eyup Sultan Mosque in Istanbul after the election just like Ottoman sultans had done before succeeding to the throne. The Swiss daily added that Erdogan was mainly supported by pious segments of Turkish society.

Meanwhile, French-language Swiss daily Le Temps said that Erdogan consolidated his power in Turkey and that Erdogan would be willing to remain in power until 2023.

Another Swiss daily, Tages-Anzeiger, also said that presidency post would not be enough for Erdogan and stated that the outgoing PM had done many things in the last 11 years to make Turkish people feel proud.

'Political dominance'

French newspaper Le Monde said that, despite the strong support for Erdogan, there were still people in Turkey who strongly opposed him. 

The headline of Italy's Corriere della Sera was: "Referendum for Erdogan in Turkey."

It said Turkey was now likely to begin a transition to a presidential system after Erdogan's strong victory in the first round.

The Italian daily La Stampa said Erdogan would achieve unlimited power when constitutional reforms were passed, leading to a presidential system.

The Athens-Macedonian News Agency, or AMNA, emphasized that Erdogan's election as president would extend his political dominance for at least another five years.

One of the deep rooted newspapers in Bosnia, Oslobodjenje, pointed out in the headline: "Erdogan is victorious," whereas Croatian newspaper Jutarnji List stated that Erdogan could be Turkey's leader for the next 10 years. 

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