Leaders around the world have condemned the attempted military coup in Turkey, showing their support for the elected government.
U.N. Spokesman said that the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underscored that “military interference in the affairs of any state is unacceptable.” Ban appealed for calm, non-violence and restraint, adding that “it will be crucial to quickly and peacefully affirm civilian rule and constitutional order in accordance with principles of democracy."
In a statement issued after a meeting with his national security advisers Friday, President Barack Obama urged all sides in Turkey to support the democratically elected government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to show restraint and avoid violence or bloodshed.
Obama discussed the developments by phone with Secretary of State John Kerry, who was traveling to Moscow for separate meetings with senior Russian officials on Syria.
In a statement Saturday, Kerry said that the U.S. will assist Turkey's government in the coup investigation.
Kerry said he had emphasized in a telephone call with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu the U.S. “absolute support for Turkey’s democratically-elected, civilian government and democratic institutions.” The U.S. urges “all parties to ensure the safety and well-being of diplomatic missions and personnel and civilians throughout Turkey."
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he was in touch with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, and was closely following events in Turkey. "I call for calm and restraint, and full respect for Turkey's democratic institutions and its constitution. Turkey is a valued NATO Ally," he said in a statement.
The Council of Europe has called for Turkey's public institutions to resume their normal functions, while offering its help in the aftermath of the coup attempt. Council of Europe Committee of Ministers Chair Marina Kaljurand condemned the coup attempt and expressed her support for the democratically elected authorities.
“I call for the resumption of the normal functioning of public institutions and reaffirm the Council of Europe's availability to continue to assist Turkey on the basis of the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law,” Kaljurand said in a statement.
The spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Steffen Seibert, tweeted "The democratic order must be respected...Everything must be done to protect human lives."
British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said he 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.
Italy's Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said his Turkish counterpart defined the coup attempt as “terroristic.” In a phone conversation with Cavusoglu, Gentiloni expressed “satisfaction that popular mobilization and defense of the institutions prevailed” in Turkey, according to a statement from the Italian Foreign Ministry.
Russia reiterates its readiness for joint constructive cooperation with the legitimate leadership of Turkey, Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday. "The aggravating political situation (in Turkey) against the backdrop of existing terrorist threats in this country and an armed conflict in the region pose increased danger to international and regional stability," the statement said.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said “It is unacceptable to reverse the democratic path that the people of Turkey enjoyed in the recent times of their history. This was unfortunate and we are very glad to hear that the evil forces who tried to turn Turkey into a violence ground have been defeated."
Erdoğan has been a big supporter of the Somali government and efforts to rebuild that country. He is only non-African head of state to visit there in the last two decades.
