Mixed reaction from world leaders to outcome of Turkish election

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.

Here are some of the first reactions yesterday from foreign governments:

Russia

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. Nato 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.

Iran

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.”

China

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.”

Sweden

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said “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% voter turnout “taught the entire world a democracy lesson”.

“The Kurdish issue and the economic developments in Turkey pose a serious challenge,” she said. Serbia Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic congratulated Erdogan, saying that Belgrade “will continue to be a reliable partner of Turkey and of its role as a leader ready to defend the values and principles in these more than difficult times”. –