Putin congratulates Erdogan on his party's victory in municipal elections

MOSCOW. March 31 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin congratulated Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan on Monday on the governing Justice and Development Party's convincing victory in the March 30 municipal elections.

The two leaders held telephone talks on Monday on the Russian side's initiative, the Kremlin press service reported.

Putin and Erdogan voiced their desire to strengthen mutually advantageous bilateral cooperation and agreed to continue their contacts.