Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, traveled to New York to speak at the International Zero Waste Day event to be held at the United Nations on March 30. While there, she addressed the traditional iftar program, highlighting how Turkey’s Zero Waste project has evolved into a global movement. Emine Erdoğan emphasized Turkey’s role as a leading actor in the sustainable future of the world.

During her visit to New York for the International Zero Waste Day event at the United Nations, Emine Erdoğan participated in the traditional iftar program hosted by the Turkish-American National Steering Committee. The event at the Turkish House was attended by Environment, Urban Planning, and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum, diplomatic mission representatives, senior officials from the Turkish-American and American Muslim communities, as well as representatives from civil society organizations.

Emine Erdoğan stated, “All of this contributes to the global public understanding our country’s values. Just like in the poet’s words: ‘My flag, full of light, full of waves! I have read your epic, I will write your epic.’ In the Turkish Century, we will write new epics together, God willing!”

She also addressed the ongoing civilian massacre in Gaza by Israel, stating, “The world we live in has become a place where massacres of children can be justified.” Following the iftar program, she visited an exhibition at the Turkish House organized by students from the American Maarif School on the theme of the Zero Waste Project. Emine Erdoğan engaged with the students and school administrators, taking group photos together.