World leaders congratulate Erdogan on election success
First Election Day congratulations from EU country come from Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban
As votes continue to be counted in Turkey’s Sunday presidential and parliamentary elections, world leaders are congratulating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his election success.
The first congratulation from an EU country came from Hungarian Prime Minister Victor 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 in the international area.
Erdogan, for his part, thanked Aliyev for his congratulations.
During the conversation, the leaders also expressed their belief in the progress of the brotherly relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan in every area.
The statement also said Aliyev invited Erdogan to an official visit to Azerbaijan, and Erdogan accepted.
According to presidential sources, Albanian Premier Edi Rama congratulated President Erdogan via a telephone call, which Erdogan received with thanks.
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” to 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 some 90 percent of the vote counted, Erdogan currently leads in Turkey's presidential election.
Congratulations also came from Greek Foreign Minister Nikolaos Kotzias and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Telephoning Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Mamadi Toure, foreign minister of the West African country of Guinea, also congratulated the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party on its election success.
