The Association of News Agencies from Turkish Speaking Countries (TKA) held its 7th general assembly in Azerbaijan in May 2008. The group was founded 16 years ago to strengthen cooperation among news agencies sharing a common language across its regional variations.
Hilmi Bengi, director-general of Türkiye's Anadolu Agency, addressed the gathering and outlined plans for a new internet news platform that would publish content in the various dialects spoken across Turkic-speaking countries, autonomous republics, and communities. Member agencies would contribute reporting in their respective dialects. Funding would come from Türkiye's International Cooperation and Development Agency, and content would also appear in English and Russian translations.
Bengi described the diversity of Turkic dialects as a strength, saying they share common roots. He then formally passed TKA's rotating presidency to Aslan Aslanov, director-general of Azerbaijan's state news agency Azertac.
Turkish State Minister Mehmet Aydin, in a written message to the assembly, said the meeting held special significance as a gathering of the broader Turkic world.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in May 2008, in its own words.