By Merve Aydogan, Nilay Kar Onum, Kubra Chohan, Cansu Dikme, Ali Abo Rezeg, Aamir Latif, Islamuddin Sajid, Talha Ozturk, and Mohammed Dhaysane
ANKARA
World leaders are congratulating Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the country’s Supreme Election Council announced that he won an absolute majority in Sunday’s presidential elections.
The first congratulation from an EU country came from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, according to presidential sources.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also congratulated Erdogan on his "great success" in the presidential election, according to a statement by the Azerbaijani presidency.
In a phone call, Aliyev said Turkey has grown under Erdogan’s leadership, adding that Turkey’s economy has scored great successes and Ankara has cemented its position internationally.
During the conversation, the leaders also expressed their belief in the progress of the brotherly relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan in all areas.
The statement also said Aliyev invited Erdogan to an official visit to Azerbaijan, and Erdogan accepted.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani congratulated on Monday his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his success.
In a written statement released on the presidential website, Rouhani wrote: “I congratulate you [Erdogan] with joy and happiness on your victory and renewed confidence in the presidential election.”
According to sources at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister of northern Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, and British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson separately congratulated Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Erdogan’s election victory.
Former German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel also telephoned Cavusoglu to express congratulations.
Putin stresses on dialogue
Recalling the strong historic, cultural and religious ties between the two countries, he expressed hopes that friendly relations with Turkey would strengthen.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also on Monday congratulated Erdogan and confirmed his readiness to continue the bilateral dialogue and joint regional and international work.
According to a Kremlin statement, Putin said the outcome of the vote confirms Erdogan’s great political authority, and broad support for the course pursued under his leadership to solve social and economic issues facing Turkey, and also for enhancing the country’s foreign policy position.
Separately, the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko congratulated his Turkish counterpart on his presidential election win.
Poroshenko on his Twitter account said: "Congratulations to Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election as president of Turkey. [I am] Confident that people's trust and new constitutional powers will open additional ways for the further development of Turkey and well-being of the Turkish nation."
"Ukraine is determined to build on UA-TR strategic partnership and enhance cooperation in all spheres," he added.
Later, Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev congratulated Erdogan's election victory.
Nazarbayev in a written statement said: "The outcome of the elections has shown that Turkish people greatly value your efforts as president of your country and they support political and economic reforms that you have carried out and strategic developments that were determined.”
Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbay Ceenbekov also congratulated Erdogan for his victory.
In a written statement, Ceenbekov said: “The outcome of the elections is a proof of Turkish people’s belief in reforms that you have realized and what you have done so far.”
Ceenbekov also said that he was looking forward to Erdogan’s official visit to the country in September.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mustafa Akinci, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov were also among the leaders who congratulated Erdogan on his victory.
'More success'
Moreover, Albanian premier Edi Rama congratulated Erdogan via a telephone call, which Erdogan received with thanks, according to presidential sources.
In a phone call, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also congratulated Erdogan on "the success of the Turkish democratic process and his victory in the presidential elections," said the official Palestinian News Agency (WAFA).
Abbas said: "I wish Turkey more success, progress, and stability."
Erdogan, according to the agency, stressed Turkey’s "continued support” for the Palestinian people and “their just cause and their right to freedom and stability."
According to Bosnia's tripartite presidency, Bosniak leader Bakir Izetbegovic telephoned Erdogan to congratulate him on his success in the elections.
With almost all the votes counted, Erdogan leads in Turkey's presidential election.
Other international messages of congratulations came from Greek Foreign Minister Nikolaos Kotzias, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov.
Kosovar President Hashim Thaci also congratulated Erdogan on Twitter, saying: "Looking forward to our continued good cooperation between Kosovo and Turkey. Two countries are strategic allies in all spheres.
'Road to progress and prosperity'
Mamadi Toure, foreign minister of the West African country of Guinea, also congratulated his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party’s election success.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic wished Erdogan success in carrying out his duties.
"Serbia places great importance on its true friendship with Turkey and is committed to fostering good, solid relations. We will continue to be a reliable partner to Turkey and its leadership, which is ready to protect and defend values and principles in more challenging times," said Vucic in a written statement.
"You have made a new victory on the road to the progress and prosperity of Turkey and the great Turkish nation, and I am confident that your determination will remain a trademark of your leadership in facing future challenges," Vucic said in a telephone conversation with Erdogan, according to the statement.
Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain “extended heartfelt felicitations to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey on his victory in the elections”.
Hussain underscored that the large turnout and the peaceful conduct of the parliamentary and presidential elections was a testimony to the strength and vibrancy of Turkey’s democratic values and institutions.
Hussain expressed hope that Turkey would continue on its path of progress and prosperity under Erdogan's leadership and that historic and unparalleled bilateral relations between Pakistan and Turkey would continue to grow.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko congratulated Erdogan on reelection and said Turkey "will continue its progressive movement along the path of progress and prosperity.
"I am convinced that the strategic bilateral cooperation, which is dynamically expanding, has a huge potential, and by joint efforts, we will be able to reach new heights in the political, trade and economic, and other spheres of interaction," Lukashenko said.
Mideast congratulations
In a telephone conversation, Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani also congratulated Erdogan on his success in the presidential and parliamentary elections, according to Turkish sources.
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah also sent a cable congratulating Erdogan on his party winning the presidential and parliament elections.
Kuwait’s news agency KUNA said the emir praised the distinguished and historic relations between the two countries, expressing hope these ties would grow deeper in the days to come.
Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo also congratulated Erdogan in a statement on Twitter.
"Congratulations to President @RT_Erdogan on his successful presidential election. The government & people of Somalia congratulate the people of Turkey on their historic presidential and parliamentary elections. Turkey a valuable partner of Somalia," he wrote.
"My sincere congratulations to President Erdogan and the AK Party and to the Turkish people for their winning in the presidential and parliamentary elections," tweeted Ezzat al-Rishq, a senior leader of the Hamas movement.
Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa congratulated Erdogan on his election success and underlined the deep-rooted ties between Turkey and Bahrain, according to the Bahraini News Agency.
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood also released a message congratulating Erdogan on his election success.
The group's senior member Ibrahim Munir wrote on Facebook that the group prays for Turkey's further development during Erdogan's term.
"May God protect you [Erdogan], the whole Islamic world, and humanity," he said.
Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahdha Movement in Tunisia, also extended greetings to Erdogan.
In a Twitter post, the Tunisian politician said he congratulated Erdogan, his party, and his allies for the renewed confidence they have received from their people.
Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi likewise congratulated Erdogan on Monday, describing the latter’s electoral victory as “further evidence of the Turkish people’s confidence in their president”.
“I would like to send my heartfelt congratulations to you on your victory,” Hadi said in a congratulatory message carried by Yemen’s official SABA news agency.
Hadi also voiced his appreciation for what he called “Turkey’s firm stance in support of [Yemen’s] legitimate government”.
Jordanian King Abdullah II also congratulated the Turkish president on Monday, while also voicing his desire to enhance bilateral relations.
In a royal communique sent to President Erdogan, King Abdullah stressed Jordan’s desire to “step up cooperation between our two countries with a view to achieving our common interests”.
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