UPDATE 2 - Leaders around the world congratulate Turkish President Erdogan on his birthday

ADDS MORE CONGRATULATIONS; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Esra Tekin and Gizem Nisa Cebi and Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) - World leaders congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in separate phone calls Wednesday on the occasion of his 71st birthday.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev were among those who extended their felicitations.

The leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations and addressed regional and global developments.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also congratulated Erdogan.

In the phone call, Erdogan and Mitsotakis discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also offered his congratulations.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues.

Erdogan received similar calls from United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Erdogan thanked those who congratulated him.

"I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the citizens who congratulated me on my birthday, whether by calling, sending messages, or sharing on social media, as well as to my companions in the journey and cause, my colleagues, friends, and all my brothers and sisters, from Türkiye and all over the world, for their sincere wishes," he said on X.