Turkish diaspora praises work of Anadolu Agency

BERLIN (AA) - Representatives of Germany’s 3 million-strong Turkish migrant community have praised the work of Anadolu Agency in messages released Thursday to mark the 97th anniversary of Turkey’s top news wire service.

Zafer Sirakaya, president of the Union of European Turkish Democrats (UETD), one of the most influential Turkish diaspora organizations in Europe, thanked Anadolu Agency for making their voice heard.

“On the 97th anniversary of its foundation, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Anadolu Agency, which has been a source of impartial, accurate and trustworthy news both in Turkey, in Europe and across the world,” he said in a statement.

Sirakaya said Anadolu Agency have made the voices of Turkish migrant communities heard across the world through its news services in 11 languages.

Aziz Sariyar, board president of the Association of Turkish Businessmen in Europe (ATIAD), has underlined the important role of Anadolu Agency in meeting information needs of the Turkish diaspora in Europe.

Recalling that the Ankara-based news agency was formed in 1920 by the founding father of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, with the goal of providing objective and accurate news, Sariyar said the agency is still bearing an important responsibility.

“We believe that Anadolu Agency will continue to uphold its responsibility to provide impartial and trustworthy news service, to make the voice of 3 million citizens of Turkey heard, at a time when we are witnessing the number of Turkish language media organizations are diminishing in Germany,” he said.

Prominent lawyer Seda Basay Yildiz, who is representing the Turkish families of the victims of the neo-Nazi terror group NSU, said Anadolu Agency’s coverage has been important for efforts to shed light on the unsolved murders in Germany.

“Since the NSU trial began in 2013, Anadolu Agency has closely followed the hearings, interviewed family members of the victims,” she said.

“Media interest is important for our efforts to shed light on these murders, ensure that these crimes will not go unpunished. While many other media organizations have lost interest in covering the NSU, Anadolu Agency is closely following the trial, investigations into these far-right murders. This is very important for us,” she added.

NSU killed 10 people, including eight Turkish and one Greek immigrant as well as a police officer, between 2000 and 2007 without seeming to arouse suspicion.

The group was only revealed on November 4, 2011, when two members died after an unsuccessful bank robbery and police found guns and propaganda in their apartment.

Despite various parliamentary investigations and an ongoing trial of a suspected NSU member and four supporters, major questions related to the murders are yet to be answered.