Putin congratulates Erdogan over Sunday’s Yes victory

By Sinan Uslu

ANKARA (AA) – Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call Tuesday on the Yes victory in Sunday's referendum.

According to Turkish presidential sources, Putin phoned Erdogan and also discussed more cooperation on a cease-fire in Syria.

Slovenian President Borut Pahor, Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri also congratulated Erdogan over the phone.

On Sunday, a majority of Turkish voters cast ballots in favor of 18 constitutional amendments that will, among other things, see Turkey switch from a parliamentary to a presidential system of governance.

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.