By Talha Ozturk
BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - The Bosnia and Herzegovina-Türkiye Media Forum was held in Bosnia’s capital Sarajevo on Monday to exchange ideas on ways to increase cooperation between the press and in accurately reflecting the facts in the press of the two countries.
The forum gathered prominent journalists and media representatives from Türkiye and Bosnia to discuss possible cooperation and the current challenges in the media field.
Anadolu Agency’s Türkiye Foreign News Director Gamze Turkoglu Oguz was among the participants
Türkiye's Sarajevo Embassy Charge d'Affaires Emre Genctug said that despite their sincere efforts, there are some unfounded and wrong perceptions about Türkiye in the Bosnian media.
"Such biased news may sometimes carry ulterior motives, and sometimes it is simply based on a lack of information…(including) the claim that Türkiye is among the foreign powers that have a bad influence on the Balkans,'' said Genctug.
Genctug said journalists from Bosnia can contact the Communications Consultancy within the embassy on all issues concerning Türkiye and added that the presence of Anadolu and the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) in Bosnia serves as an important bridge between the media of the two countries.
Yunus Emre Institute Vice President Abdullah Kutalmis Yalcin said their institution has carried out many projects to explain the Turkish language, culture, art and history in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"When we look at Bosnia and Herzegovina specifically, I would like to remind you that in the context of education and cultural diplomacy, we have reached 7,000 students in public schools by implementing the 'My Choice is Turkish’ project. We are currently improving (their skills in) the Turkish language. It has enabled it to be included in the official curriculum in public schools and for students to choose Turkish as an elective foreign language,'' said Yalcin.
During the forum, the journalists exchanged ideas on ways to increase cooperation between the press in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Türkiye and on accurately reflecting the facts in the press of the two countries.