UPDATE 2 - Türkiye's new foreign minister receives congratulatory phone calls from counterparts

ADDS CALLS FROM FOREIGN MINISTER OF GUATEMALA

By Busra Nur Cakmak and Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan received phone calls from his counterparts around the world on his appointment to the new post, Turkish diplomatic sources said on Friday.

Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev, Moldova's Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu, and Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna congratulated Fidan on his appointment as Türkiye's foreign minister, said the sources.

Also, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Mauritania Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug and Guatemala Foreign Minister Mario Adolfo Bucaro Flores conveyed their congratulations to Fidan.

In addition, Oliver Varhelyi, European commissioner for neighborhood and enlargement, and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell congratulated newly appointed Fidan.

During the phone call with Borrell, the officials exchanged views on Türkiye's ties with the EU, as well as ongoing developments in the region.

Fidan was appointed as the top diplomat by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday following the May elections. He previously served as the chief of the National Intelligence Organization from 2010 until his appointment to the Cabinet.

He took charge of the Foreign Ministry from his predecessor Mevlut Cavusoglu on Monday.