“We congratulate you on your election as President of the Republic of Turkey. Turkey is a key partner for the European Union: a candidate country negotiating EU accession, a neighbour, an important trade partner and a foreign policy ally. We look forward to enhancing our cooperation in all these areas,” the two presidents wrote in the message.

“As you rightly underlined yourself, we trust you will maintain the conciliatory role which your new position involves, and strive to encompass all communities, beliefs, sensitivities, opinions and lifestyles of the Turkish society,” they said.

“We also look forward to your continuing support to the current process aiming at a settlement of the Kurdish issue, in which you already invested valuable efforts and on your continuing support to reach a settlement in Cyprus,” the two presidents concluded.