Washington, Shawwal 16, 1435, August 12, 2014, SPA -- U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan by telephone Tuesday to congratulate him on his election as the twelfth president of Turkey, the White House said. “The President praised the Prime Minister’s speech on Sunday and noted that as Turkey’s first directly elected President, the Prime Minister has an historic opportunity to further move Turkey forward,” the White House said in a statement. “The President and Prime Minister agreed on the importance of close cooperation on Syria and Iraq and the terrorist threat emanating from the region. They also discussed ceasefire efforts in Gaza,” the statement said. “The President welcomed Turkey’s humanitarian aid to vulnerable Syrians and Iraqis, and both agreed on the need to ensure cooperation and such assistance continue. They also expressed hope that a new Iraqi government will bring all communities together,” the White House said. --SPA 00:00 LOCAL TIME 21:00 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w