TUNIS
By Laila al-Thabti
AA Director-General and Board Chairman Kemal Ozturk, former Tunisian premier Ali Larayedh, Turkish ambassador Omer Gucuk and a host of dignitaries attended the event.
Addressing the event, Ozturk said that the Frenchservice carries a major importance for AA.
He noted that while several news agencies have been banned from working in several countries, "AA has been active, thanks to its neutrality".
Ozturk said that AA has agreements with 160 stock photography agencies.
Larayedh, for his part, welcomed the launch of theFrench service in Tunisia.
"The opening of the AA regional bureau shows that the status of freedoms is improving in the Arab world, particularly Tunisia," he said.
The former premier said that the AA French service will help bolster relations between Turkey and Tunisia.
"Turkey has been a staunch supporter of the Arab Spring revolutions and the peoples' aspirations for the freedom of expression," he said.
Gucuk, for his part, hailed the launch of the AA Frenchservice in Tunisia.
"I'm proud of the launch of the AA French service," he said.
The French service started its official broadcast on April 6 to coincide with the 94th anniversary of AA founding.
The service offers news and features from several African countries, including Senegal, the Central African Republic, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Madagascar.
The French service also covers Turkey, the Middle, Europe and the rest of the world.
AA aims to broadcast news in 11 languages by 2020, the 100th anniversary of the AA founding.
French is Anadolu Agency's seventh broadcast language following the launch of Turkish, English, Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS), Russian and Kurdish services.
