On October 28th, the 2nd Media Forum of Turkic-Speaking Countries and Communities took place in Baku.
The event was organized by Azerbaijan`s Press Council and the Fund of State Support to the Development of Mass Media under the President of Azerbaijan. Representatives of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Northern Cyprus, Russian Federation`s republics of Tuva, Sakha, Khakasiya, Kabardin-Balkar, Karachay-Cherkes, Tatarstan, Bashkordistan, Ukraine`s Crimea Autonomous region, Moldova`s Gagauz Autonomous Territory, European Turkish communities, Iraq, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia and Kosovo attended the forum.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Press Council Aflatun Amashov said the Forum was supported by the President of Azerbaijan. He expressed confidence that the Forum will be a success.
Head of the socio-political affairs department at the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Ali Hasanov read the congratulatory letter of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
"Mass media in the Turkic-speaking states should strengthen efforts to deepen ties between our fraternal states and propagandize our common cultural and national values. The
impact of mass media on global and local processes continues to grow. I hope that the current forum will further connect our mass media and promote creation of the overall media information space of the Turkic-speaking countries," the statement said.
Director General of Mass Media Department of the Turkish Prime Minister`s Office Murat Karakaya read out a congratulatory letter of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"A Declaration of the 2nd Media Forum of the Turkic-speaking Countries and Communities will be adopted in Baku today," Ali Hasanov said.
He added the Declaration would reflect the issue of cooperation among the media organizations and information agencies of the Turkic-speaking countries and communities and declare establishing their Coordination Center.
`We want to build cooperation among media organizations of the Turkic-speaking countries and communities as it exists among their official and non-governmental organizations. These issues will be discussed at the Forum today."
Hasanov said if it is proposed at the Forum, the Declaration will also reflect the issue of establishing a joint information agency of the Turkic-speaking countries and communities.
The Forum featured three meetings and panel discussions. The event heard country reports. Two panels discussed "Media of the Turkic-speaking countries and communities as uniting factor in the integration into the global information space" and the situation of social media in the Turkic-speaking regions.
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The participants also created a Media platform of the Turkic speaking countries and communities. The Platform consists of Turkic-speaking countries such as Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Northern Cyprus, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, as well as the representatives of Turkic communities living in various countries related to media, journalist organizations, TV, radio as well as the print media.
The Platform`s Ankara-based General Secretariat will be coordinating the relations between the member countries. The Platform must ensure the conduct of annual Media Forum of the Turkic-speaking Countries and Communities in a determined country.
The Media Platform of the Turkic-Speaking Countries and Communities consists of the chairman of the Coordination Council (CC), secretary general, committee chairperson of countries or communities. The Chairman is elected traditionally by the Coordination Council members. The Council must assemble at least once, discuss the issues, which are on agenda, and pass decisions with majority of votes.
The platform`s website will be also established.

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