European Union (EU) High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, on Wednesday sent his congratulations to newly elected Turkish President Abdullah Gul, saying his election will contribute to regional stability.
"I am confident that your strong commitment and dedication as well as your highly valuable experience as foreign minister ... will contribute to broadening the reform process in Turkey and to strengthening regional stability," Solana said in the congratulatory message to Gul, who was elected Turkish president in a vote in parliament on Tuesday.
Solana pledged the EU's support to Gul in his efforts as the Turkish president and expressed the hope for continued close and constructive cooperation between the EU and Turkey.
Gul, who is also deputy prime minister, was elected Turkey's new president in the third round of presidential voting in parliament on Tuesday, winning 339 votes, surpassing the 276 votes needed in the 550-seat parliament.
Turkey's secular elite has opposed the nomination of Gul, a controversial figure with an Islamist background, and the main opposition Republican People's Party has called on the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to name a compromise candidate for the post.
Gul's first bid for the presidency failed in May after the parliament's general assembly failed to reach a quorum of 367 voters needed to elect a new president due to the opposition boycott, prompting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call an early parliamentary election.
The ruling AKP won a sweeping victory in the July 22 parliamentary elections and now holds a majority of 341 seats in parliament, paving the way for Gul's election in the third round, in which a simple majority would be enough for the election.
Source: Xinhua
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