Iran Hopes Turkey’s Referendum to Lead to Peace, Stability: Spokesman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said the Islamic Republic respects the outcome of Turkish people’s vote in Sunday’s constitutional referendum and hopes that it will lead to peace and stability in the neighboring country.
Speaking to reporters at his press conference in Tehran on Monday, Qassemi pointed to Turkey’s referendum on constitutional changes that would replace the current parliamentary system with a presidential one, saying, “This an internal issue (in Turkey) and we will respect whatever the people vote for.”
He further emphasized that in order to see the referendum’s effects patience is needed.
Qassemi also expressed the hope that the referendum will lead to “peace, stability, security, and a national consensus in Turkey”.
Turkey held the referendum on Sunday. The turnout was high with more 86 percent of the country’s 55 million eligible voters casting ballots that were simply marked Yes or No, according to media reports.
Turkey’s state-run news agency said “Yes” votes were leading in the referendum.
But the main opposition party, CHP, said they will demand a recount of 37 per cent of the vote, claiming that 1.5 million “illegal” ballots were counted.
The pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) also said they had information there was between three and four per cent voter fraud during the vote.
The “Yes” side took an early lead during vote counting and stood at more than 51 per cent with 98 percent of ballots tallied, The Anadolu Agency said.
However, there was also confusion over the number of votes that had been counted, with the Supreme Election Commission reporting that only 65 to 70 per cent of ballots had been opened.
