ISTANBUL - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that the existing laws in Turkey couldn't meet needs of the media sector and could not respond to the technological developments.
''The government has completed its preparations about regulations in press and tv,'' said Prime Minister Erdogan who addressed the General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) in Istanbul.
Noting that Turkey attached great importance to radio and television broadcasting, Erdogan said that there were 16 tv channels broadcasting all over the country, 270 tv channels broadcasting at regional level and over 1200 radio channels in Turkey.
''Due to the problems in the regulations, the broadcasting organs could not have the chance to have international dimension. We organized a broad Communication Council, prepared a new press bill and opened it to discussion. I hope the bill will be adopted by the parliament soon. In addition another bill which includes new regulations in radio and tv broadcasting will be finished soon.''
Erdogan stressed that holding of ABU meeting in Turkey was very important, adding that the meeting would create an important opportunity for member states to share their experiences in radio and tv broadcasting.
(Öª) 09.10.2003