World reaction to Erdogan’s victory

PARIS: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a decisive victory in an election that will give him five more years in office with sweeping new powers, reports AFP.

Here are some of the first reactions on Monday from foreign governments:

Russian President Vladimir Putin "stressed that the results of the vote fully speak of Recep Tayyip Erdogan's great political authority (and) mass support of the course conducted under his leadership to solve Turkey's pressing social and economic tasks (and) strengthen the country's position on the international arena," the Kremlin said.

Putin stressed his readiness to continue "close joint work" and dialogue with Erdogan.

Turkey and Russia are on opposite sides in Syria, with Moscow remaining the chief ally of President Bashar al-Assad's regime and Ankara backing rebels seeking his ouster.

However, Putin and Erdogan have forged an increasingly close alliance in recent months.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg congratulated Erdogan but stressed the alliance, of which Turkey is a member, "is based on some core values: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty.

"I personally attach great importance to these values and I underline the importance of these values in many different NATO capitals including Ankara when I met Turkish leaders there," Stoltenberg said.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani offered his "sincerest congratulations" to Erdogan.

He hoped that bilateral relations "could further develop based on firm historical, cultural and religious bonds, good neighbourliness, mutual respect and common interests, and close, responsible cooperation between the two countries regarding the developments in the region and the World of Islam to prepare better groundwork for resolving issues and fostering peace and stability, as well as welfare for the peoples of the region."

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing congratulates Erdogan and "respects the choice made by the Turkish people." "China attaches great importance to its ties with Turkey.

In recent years, under the guidance of the two heads of state, our bilateral ties and cooperation in all areas have been moving forward, and achieved a lot of positive outcomes," Geng said.

"China is willing to work more with Turkey, to move forward our strategic cooperation, to serve the benefits of our two countries and two peoples."

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom that "Turkey is in no position to give other countries lessons in democracy when the (Kurdish) opposition leader has been in jail for a long time".

She was referring to Erdogan's victory speech in which he said the almost 90 percent voter turnout "taught the entire world a democracy lesson". "The Kurdish issue and the economic developments in Turkey pose a serious challenge.

 

World reaction to Erdogans victory

PARIS: Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won a decisive victory in an election that will give him five more years in office with sweeping new powers, reports AFP. Here are some of the first reactions on Monday from foreign governments: Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that the results of the vote fully speak of Recep Tayyip Erdogans great political authority (and) mass support of the course conducted under his leadership to solve Turkeys pressing social and economic tasks (and) strengthen the countrys position on the international arena, the Kremlin said. Putin stressed his readiness to continue close joint work and dialogue with Erdogan. Turkey and Russia are on opposite sides in Syria, with Moscow remaining the chief ally of President Bashar al-Assads regime and Ankara backing rebels seeking his ouster. However, Putin and Erdogan have forged an increasingly close alliance in recent months. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg congratulated Erdogan but stressed the alliance, of which Turkey is a member, is based on some core values: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty. I personally attach great importance to these values and I underline the importance of these values in many different NATO capitals including Ankara when I met Turkish leaders there, Stoltenberg said. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani offered his sincerest congratulations to Erdogan. He hoped that bilateral relations could further develop based on firm historical, cultural and religious bonds, good neighbourliness, mutual respect and common interests, and close, responsible cooperation between the two countries regarding the developments in the region and the World of Islam to prepare better groundwork for resolving issues and fostering peace and stability, as well as welfare for the peoples of the region. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing congratulates Erdogan and respects the choice made by the Turkish people. China attaches great importance to its ties with Turkey. In recent years, under the guidance of the two heads of state, our bilateral ties and cooperation in all areas have been moving forward, and achieved a lot of positive outcomes, Geng said. China is willing to work more with Turkey, to move forward our strategic cooperation, to serve the benefits of our two countries and two peoples. Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom that Turkey is in no position to give other countries lessons in democracy when the (Kurdish) opposition leader has been in jail for a long time. She was referring to Erdogans victory speech in which he said the almost 90 percent voter turnout taught the entire world a democracy lesson. The Kurdish issue and the economic developments in Turkey pose a serious challenge.