ANKARA, July 17: World leaders expressed support for Turkey and its democratic institutions on Saturday after the government quashed an attempted military coup.
ITALY
Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said Turkish authorities must do their utmost to ensure "respect for the rule of law, of fundamental rights and of parliament's role" following the failed military coup.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry Saturday evening, Gentiloni expressed "relief" thatTurkey thwarted what he calls a "military adventure that would have brought the country into chaos with the return of ghosts of the past."
Gentiloni also said that, "prompt re-establishment of constitutional order and stability is urgent and necessary" but that must occur without "indulging in the logic of violence."
GERMANY
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she condemns the coup attempt in Turkey, saying democratic institutions must be respected.
Merkel told reporters at the chancellery in Berlin on Saturday that it was "tragic that so many people paid for this coup attempt with their lives" and urged an end to the bloodshed.
She said "Germany stands on the side of all of those in Turkey who defend democracy and the rule of law."
EUROPEAN UNION
The European Union's foreign affairs chief said it is "indispensable" that Turkey regain stability, following a failed military coup.
The Italian news agency ANSA Saturday further quoted Federica Mogherini as telling it and another Italian agency AGI in a joint interview that it is imperative that "a dangerous spiral of violence" isn't fueled.
Mogherini was also quoted as calling on Turkey to respect the law, rule of law and democratic conventions, calling them "binding and inalienable principles" which are also the "best way to face the difficulties that Turkey is experiencing."
RUSSIA
Russia's Foreign Ministry expressed concern about tensions in Turkey in the wake of an attempted military coup.
"The aggravation of the political situation in the context of the terrorist threats existing in the country and armed conflict in the region carry a high risk to international and regional stability," the ministry said in a statement Saturday. "We call on the government and people of Turkey to solve the existing problems without violence, to respect the constitutional order."
Tensions between Russia and Turkey have been strong since last fall when Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the border with Syria. However, relations appeared to be moving toward repair after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued an apology for the incident last month.
UNITED STATES
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States would entertain an extradition request for exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey's president blames for a failed coup.
But Kerry added that Turkey's government would have to present evidence of Gulen's wrongdoing that withstands scrutiny.
While visiting Luxembourg, Kerry said Turkey hasn't made a request to extradite the Pennsylvania-based Gulen. But he said he anticipates questions about Gulen, who has condemned the coup attempt.
MASTER OF VOICES
Kerry said on Saturday the U.S. opposed any attempt to overthrow a democratically elected leader and change must come through a constitutional process.
ISRAEL
A statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry said it respects the democratic process in Turkey and looks forward to the continued reconciliation between the countries.
Israel and Turkey recently struck a broad reconciliation pact to restore diplomatic relations after six years of animosity between the once-close Mideast powers following a deadly Israeli naval raid to stop an activist flotilla aiming to breach the Gaza blockade.
Relations between Israel and Turkey began to decline soon after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose party has Islamist roots, came to power in 2003.
Since then, Erdogan has sought closer ties with Muslim nations while trying to distance his country from Israel. Erdogan's close ties with Gaza's Islamic Hamas rulers have further strained ties.
PAKISTAN
An aide to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attempted coup in a statement and said Pakistan "hopes that peace and normalcy will be restored in Turkey."
Tariq Fatimi also said he had contacted Turkey's foreign minister to express solidarity with Turkey'sgovernment and democratic institutions.
Pakistan's main political parties have also praised the people of Turkey for foiling the coup.
Sharif was himself overthrown in a 1999 coup led by Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan until 2008.
A Pakistani non-profit organization organized a pro-Erdogan demonstration in the capital Islamabad to pay tribute to the Turkish people and their leader for foiling the coup attempt.
Dozens of supporters of the Khubaib Foundation, which works mainly on education and support of orphans, gathered near the National Press Club Saturday and chanted slogans in favor of the Turkish government and President Erdogan.
Holding Turkish and Pakistani flags and displaying banners written in Turkish and Urdu, demonstrator chanted "Long live the Turkish people." One banner in Urdu read "The Pakistani nation salutes the people of Turkey and Erdogan for sustaining democracy."
The foundation's chairman Nadeem Ahmed Khan said the Turkish people's success in foiling the coup attempt is a triumph of democracy and human rights.
BRITAIN
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he had spoken to his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, to underline support for Turkey's "democratic elected government and institutions" in the wake of the overnight coup attempt.
The Foreign Office is advising Britons in Turkey to stay indoors, avoid public places, especially demonstrations, and remain vigilant.
British Airways said it is canceling all flights to and from Turkey Saturday, but budget airline easyJet said it plans to runs its scheduled flights, largely to Turkish resort towns. The airline said the schedule "will be kept under continuous review."
SPAIN
Spain's acting Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo condemned the attempted coup, telling Spanish national television that his government completely supports the Turkish government headed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
He says "without a doubt we support respecting the constitution and democratically elected institutions, and we condemn all coups without reservation."
Garcia Margallo spoke by telephone from Mongolia, where he is attending the ASEM Asia-Europe Meeting.
CANADA
Canada's foreign affairs minister commended the people of Turkey for defending their democracy and civilian rule.
"We are relieved that democracy has been preserved and that the democratically elected government remains in power. We are also encouraged by the gradual return to stability today," Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said in a statement.
"We stand with Turkey, a strong partner and NATO ally, as it recovers from these unsettling events. We are confident that the government and the people of Turkey will persevere against these challenges in an orderly and peaceful manner."
The federal government is offering consular assistance to Canadians in Turkey, and Dion noted the government received more than 600 inquiries from Canadians on Friday and Saturday, either inTurkey or with family in Turkey.
In Canada, organizers of the Edmonton Turkish Festival announced on their website that they had decided to postpone the event this weekend, "due to political unrest in Turkey." The website said the festival, which was to feature Turkish music, folk dances and cuisine, would be rescheduled for a later date.
SYRIAN OPPOSITION
The exiled Syrian opposition congratulated the Turkish people for halting the attempted military coup.
The Turkey-based Syrian National Coalition said Turkey has protected its democratic institutions "in the face of dark and desperate attempts that sought to take control of the popular will."
It said the Turkish people value democracy and "will not let a group of putschists take it away in a desperate attempt to restore military rule."
Turkey has been one of the main backers of the uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad, and is hosting some 2.7 million Syrian refugees.
In the early hours of the attempted coup, celebratory gunfire broke out across Damascus. The government and its supporters view the rebels as terrorists and consider Turkey to be one of their chief sponsors.
HAMAS
The Islamic militant group Hamas congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for quashing a "vicious" plot to overthrow him.
The Turkish leader has been a staunch supporter of Hamas and a fierce critic of Israel. Hamas said it remembers Turkey's "wise leadership in supporting the Palestinian people and their cause" and working to lift the blockade on Gaza, the coastal territory ruled by the group.
Hamas supporters took to the streets in several places across the Gaza Strip to celebrate the failure of the coup, raising Turkish flags and posters bearing Erdogan's image.
Turkey recently restored ties with Israel after a six-year lull following a deadly Israeli naval raid to stop an activist flotilla aiming to breach the Gaza blockade.
QATAR
The Gulf nation of Qatar, which has close ties to Erdogan's government, was quick to condemn the military coup attempt.
It called the attempted coup a "violation of the constitutional legitimacy" in Turkey and said it supports all legal measures the government takes to maintain security and stability.
The official Qatar News Agency said the ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has spoken with Erdogan by phone to express Qatar's support.
Qatar and Turkey have grown increasingly close in recent years, and share similar stances on their support for Syrian rebel groups and the Muslim Brotherhood. The two countries agreed last year to establish a Turkish military base in Qatar.
IRAN
Iran said the attempted military coup in Turkey was "doomed to fail."
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as praising the "brave defense by the people of Turkey of their democracy and elected government."
He said the events in neighboring Turkey prove "that coup d'etat has no place and is doomed to fail in our region."
SUDAN
Sudanese President Omar Bashir condemned the attempted coup in Turkey and expressed support for the government.
Bashir, who himself came to power in a 1989 military coup, said in a statement that the "Sudanese people and government stand alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his government and the people of Turkey."
Sudan's Foreign Ministry congratulated "Turkey, its president, government and people for the decisive victory of the national will."
AZERBAIJAN
The president of Turkey's neighbor Azerbaijan condemned the attempted coup.
President Ilham Aliev was concerned about developments in Turkey and "welcomed measures taken to prevent the attempt at a coup and to stabilize the situation," spokesman Ali Hasanov said.
Azerbaijan is a Turkic nation and its late president Geidar Aliev once described their relations as "one nation, two states" -- a phrase later echoed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
TURKMENISTAN
Turkmenistan said the coup attempt has caused "serious anxiety."
The Foreign Ministry said President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov "expressed support for the Turkish people and government and also firm confidence in stabilizing the situation in Turkey."
Turkmenistan is ethnically Turkic but does not share a border with Turkey.
