The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, known for his staunch anti-cigarette stance, has turned his ire on electronic cigarettes, according to a story in The Hurriyet Daily News.
“They have invented something bizarre called electronic cigarette,” Erdoğan said at a symposium in Istanbul on international drug policies and public health.
“They claim it does not contain any nicotine or very little of it. But soon people will become addicted to it.”
Erdoğan said cigarette companies had approached the government to make investments in Turkey.
“They are saying they will invest $500 million or $1 billion,” he was quoted as saying.
“But we offer them alternatives. We are asking if they are going to export what they produce here. Would you do that, we ask.
“But they demand at least 10 percent of their products be consumed domestically. Then their true intention becomes clear.”
Erdoğan suggested that those companies wanted to turn young people into addicts.
“We will not allow this to happen,” he said.