UPDATE - Erdogan's poll victory congratulated around world

UPDATES WITH STATEMENTS FROM AFGHAN AND SRI LANKAN PRESIDENTS

By Zlatan Kapic, Lejla Biogradlija, Ruslan Rehimov, Ilkay Guder and Omer Aydin

ANKARA (AA) – Congratulatory messages for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s historic election success continued to abound from around the world on Tuesday.

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic congratulated Erdogan over his success in Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
A written statement from the Croatian presidency said Grabar-Kitarovic believed Erdogan would work diligently for Turkey’s future and stability during his time in power.

Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov also congratulated the Turkish leader.
He said in a message that the Turkish nation had showed its support for Erdogan’s policies in order to ensure political and social stability as well as economic growth in the country.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also sent Erdogan a congratulatory message.
Abe stressed that he hoped to join powers with Turkey -- which has undertaken an important role in the region-- in order to continue contributing to world peace and prosperity.

Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland also sent a congratulatory letter to President Erdogan, the Council said on Tuesday.
“Turkey is one of the longest-standing members of the Council of Europe,” Jagland said, adding that he trusted Turkey in the coming years to “undertake further work together to uphold Europe’s common standards on human rights, democracy and the rule of law for the benefit of all Turkish citizens”.

Later on Tuesday, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena also congratulated Erdogan.

“The resounding electoral victory secured by you is a testimony to the trust and confidence placed by the people of Turkey in your able leadership and political acumen,” he said in a statement.

“I look forward to working with you to further strengthen and transform our bilateral cooperation into dynamic and multi-facilitated partnership,” he added.

Furthermore, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani also offered congratulations.

“The people of Afghanistan consider you as a close friend and supporter and appreciate your endless support,” he said in a statement.

Since the announcement of Erdogan's win in the polls on Sunday, many world leaders and prominent personalities had also sent messages or letters, or phoned him, to congratulate the Turkish president.

According to Turkey’s Supreme Election Council (YSK), on Sunday President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won an absolute majority in the presidential election with 52.5 percent of the vote, while his closest rival was behind at 30.6 percent, with 99.9 percent of ballot boxes opened.

In the parliamentary polls, the People's Alliance of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Justice and Development (AK) Party won 53.6 percent of the votes, with 99.9 percent of ballot boxes opened.