The Turkish Agency Cyprus, one of the significant institutions and news sources of the Turkish Cypriot media, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with events.
A photo exhibition created from the agency’s archives was also opened.
The exhibition opened on Tuesday night and featured 230 photographs that shed light on the recent history of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Speaking at the reception held at the Ataturk Culture Centre in Lefkoşa, TAK Director Fehmi Gürdallı noted that the agency continues to be a reliable source of news in the country.
“With its 50 years of experience, TAK works to deliver accurate news to the public swiftly in the era of disinformation, accompanied by social media. In doing so, it aims to be objective because the most important asset of a news agency is its reputation. A news agency without objectivity can’t have a reputable position in our age,” he said.
Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu remarked that TAK is fulfilling the duty of “broadcasting the voice of the Turkish Cypriot people to the world.”
He highlighted the impact of technology, the proliferation of news sources, and the enrichment of news content, pointing out that these developments also increase misinformation, perception management, disinformation, and manipulation.
Regarding the importance of TAK in conveying the painful truths of the Turkish Cypriots’ past struggles and injustices to the international community, Ertuğruloğlu said, “In terms of ‘accurate and reliable news,’ the significance of TAK is increasing in the effective narration and announcement of the genocide and the years of suffering and injustices endured by the Turkish Cypriots.”
Metin Feyzioğlu, the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa said the exhibition represented the 50-year-long national struggle of the Turkish Cypriots.
He emphasized that “TAK is one of the leading locomotives of this struggle.”
Also speaking at the event, President Ersin Tatar said that TAK carried out the task of making the struggle of the Turkish Cypriots known to the world despite limited resources and budget constraints.
Regarding the exhibition and TAK’s archival work, Tatar said the photographs were invaluable expressions of the struggle of the Turkish Cypriot people.
He remarked, “These are the cornerstones of the struggle we have waged against the whole world.”
Following acknowledgements and presentations of certificates and plaques at the exhibition, 20th-anniversary plaques were awarded to 12 personnel who completed 20 years of service at the agency.