Erdoğan's warning to Meloni in the Italian press! 'He quit smoking 13 years ago and started again'

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt . Erdoğan's humorous advice to the Italian leader to quit smoking during the meeting was widely reported in the Italian and international press.

'ERDOĞAN WAS OBSESSED WITH MELONI'

A report titled "Erdoğan teased by Meloni" on the Corriere Della Sera newspaper's website noted that Erdoğan and Meloni shared a heartfelt moment, with President Erdoğan smilingly suggesting the Italian leader quit smoking. The report noted that President Erdoğan's comments amused both Meloni and French President Macron.

'MACRON FOLLOWED WITH INTEREST'

Similarly, the Italian newspaper La Repubblica shared footage of a humorous exchange between Erdoğan and Meloni in Sharm el-Sheikh. The report noted that Erdoğan told Meloni, "I see you're doing well, but I need to get you to quit smoking." It also included details of the enjoyable exchange between the Turkish and Italian leaders, which French President Macron also followed with interest.

Trump's delay did not dampen the spirits of leaders

Milan-based newspaper Il Giornale reported that US President Donald Trump's three-hour delay to the summit, due to his extended visit to Israel, did not dampen the leaders' spirits at all. The report emphasized that the lively exchange between President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Meloni at the summit was the best proof of this. It also noted that the humorous exchange between the Turkish and Italian leaders brought smiles to the faces of French President Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

'ERDOĞAN JOKE WITH MELONI'

The website of La Stampa newspaper also presented the footage of the dialogue with the caption , "Erdoğan joked with Meloni."

It was also reported in the world press.

The humorous dialogue between Erdoğan and Meloni was covered not only by the Italian press but also by the press in the Balkan countries, Europe, Russia and the USA.

The Russia-based TASS news agency reported the news with the headline , "Turkish President teases Italian Prime Minister over smoking habit ." TASS also reported that Erdoğan advised Meloni to quit smoking while shaking hands with him.

The European edition of US-based news organization Politico reported the news with the headline, "Erdogan wants Meloni to quit smoking, but Macron thinks it's a hopeless case."

Politico reported that Italian Prime Minister Meloni was the new target of President Erdoğan's anti-tobacco campaign, and noted that Meloni responded to Erdoğan's joke with another joke, saying he could kill someone if he quit smoking.

The Serbian newspaper Politika's website reported that President Erdoğan had warned Meloni about smoking "in a peculiar, half-joking tone," while the Croatian news portal Index detailed that Meloni had admitted in a book based on a series of interviews that he had started smoking again after quitting 13 years ago.