ANKARA 

Turkey's Anadolu Agency (AA) celebrated its 95th anniversary Monday.

Founded on April 6, 1920, 17 days before the Turkish Grand National Assembly convened for the first time, The Anadolu Agency helped announce the first legislation passed by the Assembly, which established the Republic.

In his message marking the occasion, Chairman of the Board and Director General of The Anadolu Agency Senol Kazanci recalled that The Anadolu Agency was established during the War of Independence to herald Anatolia’s voice to the world.

He said that, 95 years later, the aim was to pass to the new generations this task that is entrusted to them: to tell Turkey’s story to the world and consolidate the position the agency has gained.

“The Anadolu Agency, by witnessing each stage of the national struggle and the War of Independence, has played an active role in the building of new Turkey, fight for independence and the future,” Kazanci said.

Kazanci recalled that The Anadolu Agency was established at Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s behest by writer Halide Edip (Adivar) and journalist Yunus Nadi (Abalioglu), in difficult circumstances as Istanbul had been under occupation.

Kazanci, accompanied by an agency delegation, visited the tomb of Ataturk, founder of AA and the Republic of Turkey. 

Having signed the official memorial book at Ataturk's mausoleum, Kazanci wrote: 

"...Today, The Anadolu Agency is not only the voice of Anatolia, but also the voice of all oppressed nations, as part of its centennial vision."

During the War of Independence, the agency carried out a difficult task -- which was to defend the national struggle in the world, inform the international community on Turkey's rightful demands and act carefully against traps and tricks the Republic faced.

“Source of reliable news”

Kazanci said that 2,360 people from 79 nations work for the Anadolu Agency in some 86 countries where AA has its offices.

The Anadolu Agency, “the source of reliable news,” publishes 2,200 news, 1,900 photos and 250 video-news on daily basis (average), Kazanci said.

He said that at the end of 2014 The Anadolu Agency had 1,450 subscriptions in 45 countries and published news in eight languages.

AA currently broadcasts in Turkish, English, Arabic, French, Kurdish, Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian (BCS), Russian, and Albanian.

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

Kazanci thanked all employees who have contributed and continue contributing to the agency. 

"I also want to thank Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Deputy PM Yalcin Akdogan for their contribution to the progress of The Anadolu Agency,” Kazanci said.