UN address, bilateral meetings: Turkish president's diplomatic engagements in New York

By Zafer Fatih Beyaz and Serkan Kaya

NEW YORK (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a busy schedule this week as he held talks with a number of heads of state and government besides other engagements in New York on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly session.

The meetings were held at the Turkevi Center, or Turkish House, a landmark 36-story skyscraper that houses the UN permanent mission of Türkiye as well as the Turkish Consulate General.

In his first meeting on Sunday, Erdogan received Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and discussed the importance of implementing the Middle Corridor land and sea transport route.

President Erdogan also highlighted the swift operationalization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway as a key priority.

The next day, Erdogan met his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Poland’s President Andrzej Duda to evaluate bilateral relations.

He then discussed regional and global issues with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Stoltenberg said they discussed "stepping up our fight against terrorism" and thanked the Turkish leader for efforts to revive the Black Sea grain deal.

- UN General Assembly address

The Turkish leader on Tuesday addressed the UN General Assembly, his 13th speech. He attended the annual session in the past as prime minister as well.

He spoke on the Turkish foreign policy, the devastating Feb. 6 earthquakes in southern Türkiye, the Ukraine war, Azerbaijan's anti-terrorism operation in Karabakh, developments in Syria and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as well as the country's counterterrorism efforts.

After the address, he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Italian Premier Georgia Meloni.

Later in the day, he, along with wife Emine Erdogan, attended a reception hosted by US President Joe Biden, and first lady Jill Biden for the heads of delegations to the UN General Assembly and their spouses.

- Session with South African, Greek, Malaysian leaders

Erdogan on Wednesday held separate meetings with South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Erdogan and Mitsotakis affirmed the "positive climate" in bilateral relations, and exchanged views on regional and international issues.

- Invites Tesla CEO Elon Musk to Türkiye

The Turkish president also had a conversation with billionaire Elon Musk. He invited Musk to Türkiye, and asked him to establish Tesla's seventh factory in the country.

*Writing by Muhammed Enes Calli