President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met Turkish national basketball player Cedi Osman at the Turkish House in New York during his visit to the United States for the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The meeting featured a warm and lighthearted conversation about basketball. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was also present during the encounter.
Erdoğan invited Osman to join him for a basketball game in Ankara, telling the Turkish star, “Come to Ankara, let’s play basketball.”
The conversation then turned to Turkish Basketball Federation President and former NBA player Hidayet Türkoğlu. Erdoğan joked with Osman, saying, “We’ll put Hidayet Türkoğlu on the opposing team and take you onto our team.”
Erdoğan also mentioned former national basketball player Ömer Onan during the exchange, joking that they sometimes put him on the opposing team as well.
### Erdoğan Continues UN Meetings in New York
President Erdoğan is in New York for the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he is holding a series of meetings and engagements.
The Turkish House, located across from the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, has become one of the main venues for Erdoğan’s meetings during his New York visit.
The encounter with Cedi Osman added a sporting moment to Erdoğan’s diplomatic schedule as the Turkish president continues his UN-related engagements in the city.