UPDATE - President Erdogan meets Italian prime minister in New York

ADDS STATEMENT BY TURKISH COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE

By Servet Gunerigok

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni in New York during his visit Tuesday for the 78th session of UN General Assembly.

The closed-door meeting, which lasted 40 minutes, took place at the Turkish House.

Türkiye's Communications Directorate said wrote on X that the leaders discussed ties between, along with the war in Ukraine, the future of Black Sea Grain Initiative and economic relations.

Erdogan emphasized the importance of promptly organizing meetings of the Economy and Trade Joint Committee and Business Forum to boost trade between the two nations.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun and Chief Advisor to the President Ambassador Akif Cagatay Kilic were present.

President Erdogan delivered his address at the UN earlier Tuesday.

*Serkan Kaya contributed to the story