January 10 Working Journalists Day Celebrated Throughout Turkey

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and State Minister Besir Atalay issued messages on Monday to mark January 10 ''Working Journalists Day''.
     In his message, Sezer said that the media should be deductive, accurate, objective and impartial; report different thoughts and views; and contribute to implementation of pluralism principle of democracy.
     ''An independent and strong media, which defends interests of people, inform them and fulfils its duties in the light of universal principles, is of vital importance for democracy. Trade union rights and arrangements, which will enable journalists to write unbiased news and which will rehabilitate their working conditions, will eliminate problems of journalists and lay a more productive working ground for them,'' Sezer stated.
     On the other hand, Arinc said, ''rehabilitation of working conditions of journalists, eliminating the obstacles before freedom of press, and adjusting rights of journalists to the EU (European Union) standards will strengthen our media.''
     Meanwhile, State Minister Atalay said, ''when acting on behalf of the society, journalists should have no concerns over their rights and future.''
     (BRC-ULG)
2005-01-10