Turkey Hails Successful Elections

Turkey’s deputy foreign minister congratulated Iran on holding a successful and democratic presidential election, describing the high turnout as a testimony of the significance that Iranians attach to the future of their country. What happened in Iran during Friday’s presidential election was a “magnificent show of democracy”, and the high voter turnout signifies that the Iranian people are determined to decide their own fate, Turkish Foreign Ministry’s Deputy Undersecretary Sedat Onal said in a meeting with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Pacific Affairs Ebrahim Rahimpour in Tehran on Sunday, Tasnim News Agency reported. It came after 73% of eligible voters took part in the crucial vote, which resulted in the reelection of President Hassan Rouhani. The Iranian diplomat congratulated Turkey on its success to hold a constitutional referendum, stressing that Iran respects the Turkish people’s decision. A narrow majority of Turkish people voted in favor of changes to the constitution which significantly increases presidential powers.  Rahimpour described Iran and Turkey as two “major and great” countries in the region, noting that their cooperation can and should contribute to addressing regional problems.