Erdogan calls Anadolu Agency nation's 'powerful voice'

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has appreciated the services of Anadolu Agency during his message to mark the organization’s 98th anniversary, calling it a powerful voice of the Turkish nation.

"Anadolu Agency tells the world of the resurrection legend of our nation.

"Our national news agency, which has an educational value for the Turkish press, has also become a powerful voice for the nation in the fight against separatist terrorism and the betraying FETO (Fetullah Terrorist Organization). Anadolu Agency has strengthened its news network abroad in recent years," Erdogan said.

He added: “Anadolu Agency, which shows it is connected to its founding philosophy by continuing its duty of informing our nation accurately and completely during Operation Olive Branch just as it did in the fight for independence, has become one of the prominent news agencies in the world with its efficacy and power.”

The president also wished continued success to the employees of Anadolu Agency and greeted them "with the most heartwarming feelings."

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said: “I strongly believe that our Anadolu Agency will constantly renew itself for the aim of a much more powerful, prosperous, respectable and worthy Turkey, and that it will make our country’s international reputation stronger by giving accurate news, accurate information.”

He also said Anadolu Agency constantly develops strategies against social media activities carried out against Turkey.

Ibrahim Kalin, the presidential spokesman, said: “Anadolu Agency today plays a very important role in both conveying Turkey’s agenda to the world and the world’s to Turkey, just as it was in the past.”

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Anadolu Agency is the voice of the oppressed people, particularly women and children.

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said: “Anadolu Agency has taken its place among the world's most influential news agencies, through its news from difficult geographies and strong visuals.”

He said the agency transmits world news to Turkey and Turkey’s news to the world on basis of professional ethics. He noted that the agency maintains representatives in 100 countries and personnel from 107 different nationalities.

Anadolu Agency is the address of trusted news with its 98 years of experience, Bozdag added.

Deputy Premier Fikri Isik said the agency conveys the messages of the oppressed and highlights their rightful fights.

Deputy Prime Miniter Recep Akdag also congratulated the agency during his official visit to Japan, saying “Anadolu Agency is the source of pride for us."

“First of all, it [Anadolu Agency] started to become the voice of geographies that we forgot,” said Turkey's EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik.

Several political figures also released messages to mark the anniversary, including Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Tufan Erhurman, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul, Minister of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ahmet Arslan, Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci, Environment and Urbanization Minister Mehmet Ozhaseki, Health Minister Ahmet Demircan and Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Ahmet Esref Fakibaba, and TRNC Minister of Economy and Energy Ozdil Nami.

Several ambassadors and consul generals of Turkey also sent congratulatory messages to mark the anniversary.

Anadolu Agency has over 2,000 subscribers in 50 countries and publishes news in multiple languages.

Anadolu Agency currently broadcasts in Turkish, English, Arabic, Russian, French, Kurdish, Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian (BCS), Albanian, Persian, Macedonian, Indonesian and Spanish.

Anadolu Agency, “the source of reliable news,” posts an average of 2,200 news stories, 2,300 photos, 400 video news reports, 15 live broadcasts and 8 infographics on a daily basis.

As part of its centennial vision, the agency aims to become one of the world's most influential agencies by 2020.