UPDATES WITH IRAN, HUNGARY, SYRIAN NATIONAL COALITION
ANKARA (AA) – A host of world leaders congratulated President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following the Yes victory in Sunday’s historic referendum.
According to unofficial results, the Yes campaign won with 51.41 percent, while the No votes stood at 48.59 percent. Voter turnout was 85.46 percent.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was the first leader to congratulate Erdogan in a telephone call on Sunday, saying that the result demonstrated “the Turkish people’s great support” for Erdogan’s policy.
In a letter addressed to Erdogan after the phone call, Aliyev said the outcome would raise Turkey’s profile on the world stage.
“Certainly this referendum will mark the beginning of a new stage in the history of your brotherly country and reinforce the international role and standing of a stable and powerful Turkey,” he said.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also congratulated Erdogan, Turkish presidential sources said.
According to diplomatic sources, leaders from Hungary, Macedonia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan, and Kenya offered congratulations to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in telephone calls.
Both the president and prime minister of Pakistan said the outcome reflected the Turkish people’s desire for a strong Turkey.
They also voiced hope the new path would help consolidate gains made in Turkey over the past 15 years for stability and prosperity and pave the way for accelerated progress in the future.
One of Pakistan’s largest political parties, Jamaat-e Islami, congratulated Erdogan and the Turkish people on the “historic” win.
Party leader Siraj-ul-Haq, who is also a member of the Senate, told Anadolu Agency the result showed the trust Turks place in the policies of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party.
“Our best wishes are with President Erdogan, his team, and the brotherly people of Turkey,” he said. “I am sure this historic referendum victory will forge the way forward toward a strong, united, and prosperous Turkey.”
Iraqi Vice President Osama al-Nujaifi also sent a message of congratulations, saying, “Mr. President, I am glad to congratulate you and the friendly Turkish nation on the referendum aimed at constitutional change.”
Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh said he was pleased with the victory for democracy in Turkey.
On Twitter, Izzet Er-Resa, a top Hamas leader, sent congratulations from the group to Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, and the leaders of Turkish political parties. “Turkey has taken a big step on the path of development while achieving new success,” he said.
The Palestinian Liberation Organization expressed its happiness at the vote, saying the result would contribute to Turkey’s stability and more support on the Palestinian issue.
Talaat Fehmi of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood told Anadolu Agency that Turkey had given the world a lesson in democracy by showing that “leaders backed by their people can overcome all difficulties”.
Turkish presidential sources said Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also congratulated Erdogan with written statements Monday.
Lukashenko said that the referendum outcome would help enhance Turkey’s sovereignty and independence.
“Having supported the constitutional reform, the people of Turkey supported the current government’s efforts to ensure economic growth and political stability in the world and in the country,” he said.
Anas al-Abdah of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, commonly known as the Syrian National Coalition, also hailed Erdogan’s victory, presidential sources said.
Sunday’s referendum asked voters to decide on an 18-article bill to switch from a parliamentary to a presidential system, among other changes.
