President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined athletes from various countries, children and young people at a program held at Vahdettin Residence as part of World No Tobacco Day on May 31.
President Erdogan spoke to young people about the harm that tobacco products pose to public health and the environmental pollution they cause. AK Party Istanbul Deputy Musheref Pervin Tuba Durgut also attended the program.
President Erdogan gave an opening speech before answering questions from the young people.
“Every year in our country, 85,000 people are killed by this monster called tobacco.”
President Erdogan said, “I hope that the World No Tobacco Day event will contribute to raising awareness of the harms of tobacco products. Of course, I would like to express my very gratitude to my sister Tuva, who has been struggling on this issue. The multi-billion dollar tobacco industry targets all layers of our society, especially children. “We can see how the tobacco industry increases its profits at the expense of people’s lives with new products and legal loopholes. The figures reveal the horror of this problem. Every day, 20,000 people around the world lose their lives to diseases caused by smoking, and every year in our country, 85,000 people fall victim to the monster that is tobacco. He said.
“Tobacco also pollutes our planet.”
President Erdogan said, “Tobacco not only poisons people, it also pollutes our world. Nearly half of the world’s children are forced to breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 toxic carcinogens. Toxins and other carcinogens are released into the air by substances contained in tobacco products, which cause the smoker to breathe. “It creates an unclean environment for those around them. The situation of people who are exposed to tobacco despite not using it – passive smokers – is a problem. Despite all these harms caused by smoking, the tobacco industry continues to grow and generate $700 billion in profits every year.”
“The government that is waging the most effective and determined fight against tobacco products is ours.”
President Erdogan said:
“Our beloved people are well aware that I have been fighting against smoking since I was a child. We have clearly warned all those who smoke, especially those close to us, about the harm of this smoke. If they have any, we have confiscated their cigarette packets. “We made them promise to quit smoking and wrote their names, dates and these in the Presidency.” We reserved a special office for them in our office and took care to raise awareness about tobacco addiction among young people through various events we organized there.
We have taken very important steps, from banning smoking in enclosed spaces to increasing fines and imposing higher taxes. We have made health warnings on cigarette packaging more clear and effective. We have tried to raise public awareness with our “Smoke-Free Airspace” and “Protect Our Air” campaigns. “The most effective and determined fight against tobacco products is being waged by our governments.”
“I am pleased that as a result of our uncompromising stance, smoking in our country has slightly decreased. I believe that all citizens and all humanity should be vigilant against this insidious danger. I hope so,” President Erdogan said. “We will continue our fight on multiple fronts with even greater determination.”
“Cigarette butts are a huge nuisance in the water.”
In his speech, which also marked World Oceans Day, President Erdogan also responded to a speech by national athlete Şahika Ercumen, who said that tobacco waste accounts for a large proportion of marine pollution.
President Erdogan said, “I’m sure cigarette butts in the water are causing you serious inconvenience. Unfortunately, this is the current situation. Of course, I especially congratulate you, because you really fought seriously among our athletes on this zero waste issue and set a goal,” and for example, to all our athletic brothers who took part in this fight, he said, “I congratulate you on behalf of the entire nation.”
Erdogan, a girl named Stella from Spain. He also explained that the environmental regulations implemented in Spain have created a legal basis for tobacco companies to be held responsible for environmental pollution caused by cigarettes and butts, and that tobacco companies are obliged to play an active role in collecting tobacco waste and transporting it to waste facilities.
“I will ask Spain’s Mr Sanchez to draft the text of this law,” Erdogan said.
“They’re fighting hard to get into our country with e-cigarettes.”
Following a speech by Adem, a young man from Dagestan and Japanese national, President Erdogan also explained his views on e-cigarettes, saying that e-cigarettes are just as harmful as regular cigarettes, and drew attention to the harm of e-cigarettes and their popularity among young people, especially teenagers.
“They are struggling to get e-cigarettes into our country through various routes. Unfortunately, some are coming through illegal means, but customs are currently fighting hard in this regard. Some people are coming to us through e-cigarettes,” Erdogan said. “Some of you may have heard of some brands, but we will not allow them in the future. We have removed them because we have determined that they are more harmful. We can never allow our people to be poisoned, so we are building a system where such efforts and preventive measures can be taken,” he said.
“We will contact the UK if necessary.”
Edward Smith, a 15-year-old British teenager, was speaking about a recent law in the UK that bans people born after 2009 from legally obtaining tobacco and e-cigarettes.
During his speech, Smith said he believes the legislation will help reduce tobacco-related illnesses.
“If we become aware that the UK is conducting such a legal investigation, we will contact the UK if necessary,” Erdogan said.
Regarding this issue, Musheref Pervin Tuba Durgut said, “I hope this law will be applied, sir. Children born after 2009 will not be able to buy cigarettes or tobacco products. This is a very good law to protect children. Let’s work, sir. Regarding this issue, President.” President Erdogan responded, “Let’s work.”
“We haven’t been to this game until today, but we hope we don’t come to this game anyway.”
Erdogan said tobacco companies are trying to influence the government and the people through their investments and to influence government policies, and added, “Your point is very valid. How can they get into Turkey through so many different routes and these routes? Is a huge global brand, but they have never done this before. “I hope I was not fooled, and I hope I will not be fooled again in the future.”
“It makes me very sad to see our young people smoking.”
“We should all be part of this effort together, and neither boys nor girls should be in this game. Of course, as president, I think when I see our young people sitting in a corner like this and smoking there,” Erdogan said. “I really feel sorry for them. As my daughter said, their lungs are damaged.” A doctor friend of mine had lung surgery while in hospital and showed me what a woman’s lungs look like when she smokes. Unfortunately, those white lungs were covered with black dots because of the cigarettes. “Don’t smoke,” he said.
“They call it fruit hookah, they call it that for cheating.”
Also on the show, 17-year-old Egyptian Maya drew attention to the dangers of hookah.
Regarding hookah use, Erdogan said, “Hookahs are very popular and in the case of hookah smoking, it has not passed through Egypt, but now it is banned in many places. It is deceptive. You know, they call it that. Unfortunately, all this is poisoning our youth and in certain places, especially coffee houses, they call it like this, but in these places, smoking hookah is common. We are struggling, but I believe we will get more positive results,” he said.
Mira, 9, said she was so upset when she saw cigarette butts in a park that she asked, “Can we remove the tobacco factory?” to which Erdogan replied, “Maybe.”
