By VITA BANDA
FORMER Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Malanji has congratulated Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election as President of the Republic of Turkiye.
In an interview with Millennium TV news, Mr Malanji said Mr Erdogan has worked hard to ensure peace in the region and his re-election should be celebrated.
“President Erdogan has got a human heart and I would like to congratulate the Turkish people for re-electing him as President. He is someone who is always objective, when you look at the tremendous efforts he has applied to maintain peace in the region.
“His benevolence… when we lost our Head of Mission in Ankara, Dr Joseph Chilengi he called them to State House and mourned with the Zambian people and availed us an aircraft to fly the body to Zambia , he has always been an all-weather friend. So, we would like to once again congratulate him for winning the election and pray that we maintain our cordial relations between Zambia and the people of Turkey,” Mr Malanji said.
He added that Mr Erdogan has always been objective in the manner he handed situations both in Turkiye and neighbouring countries.
“When you look at the refugees that they are keeping in that country from the neighbouring countries, it is not something that can be done by a heartless person. He is always objective and not someone who is carried by the wind,” Mr Malanji said.
President Erdogan on Sunday won the Turkish runoff election with 52.16 percent of vote over opposition candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu who got 47.84 percent.
