A.A. Has Been An Important Reference Since It Was Established

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency (A.A) had been an important reference in Turkey and the world since it was established on April 6, 1920, Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay said on Tuesday.
A ceremony was held in A.A headquarters in Ankara on the 84th anniversary of establishment of the Agency.
Speaking in the ceremony, Atalay said that Anadolu Agency had an independent structure and became a company on March 1, 1925 upon Ataturk's request.
Atalay noted that Anadolu Agency was an indispensable press organ with its ''accurate, objective and fast'' reporting and at the same time an important source of information for researchers.
''Anadolu Agency is not only reflecting daily developments but also writing the history,'' Atalay said.
Atalay stated that A.A was the closest witness of social, economic and daily life of Turkey and Turkish foreign policy.
Noting that the government had extended support to A.A to help it reach its targets and would continue to do so, Atalay asked A.A personnel not to deviate from principles of reporting and to be an international news agency which continued accurate, objective and fast reporting.
Atalay pointed out that A.A had reached the final stage of its efforts to make its news archive available in digital environment and to open this archive to the use of people.
This initiative would offer unique opportunities for those who carried out researches on Turkey's social, economic and foreign policy, Atalay said and expressed full belief that Anadolu Agency would achieve all those goals.
Halide Edip Adivar, one of the most important names of Salvation Action and an important intellectuals of the era, and the journalist Yunus Nadi discussed in Akhisar township station in Geyve on March 31, 1920 on their way to Ankara on how the news agency that the great leader wanted would be set up. Yunus Nadi later said Halide Hanim proposed to give the name ''Anadolu'' to the news agency for the first time in this station. Thus, Halide Edip Adivar became the ''name mother'' of the agency.
Anadolu Agency was born in April 6, 1920 with the decision taken that evening.
A.A became the ''the first national institution'' of the Turkish State 17 days before the opening of the Great National Assembly in April 23, 1920.
(BRC-AY) 06.04.2004