Anadolu Agency high-ups meet Iran's envoy to Turkey

By Erkan Avci

ANKARA (AA) - Anadolu Agency's Foreign Languages Department Director Mehmet Ozturk and International News Editor-in-Chief Faruk Tokat met the Iranian ambassador to Turkey Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian Fard in Ankara on Tuesday.

Ozturk provided information to the ambassador about Anadolu Agency’s history, starting with its foundation day to the present. He said the agency had gone through major changes since 2011 with the aim to become one of the world's best news agencies.

The agency has increased the number of its broadcast languages to 11, including Persian since Sept. 2015, he said.

Highlighting the fact that relations between Turkey and Iran go a long way back, Ozturk said Anadolu Agency aims to contribute towards further strengthening these bilateral ties.

Tokat told the ambassador Anadolu Agency currently has 42 offices worldwide and another one would open soon in Latin America.

Fard thanked Anadolu Agency officials for the visit and said the news agencies of both countries could contribute a lot towards strengthening ties between Ankara and Tehran.

The senior Anadolu Agency officials also congratulated Taherian Fard who was appointed as the Iranian ambassador to Turkey in February 2016.

The ambassador said the news agencies could mention there were 44 free trade areas in Iran that could contribute towards strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

He hoped for boosting cooperation in tourism, trade and industry between Turkey and Iran.

Anadolu Agency's Persian News Editor Hikmet Gok also participated in the meeting.

Later Tuesday, Ozturk and Tokat also visited the Center for Iranian Studies in Ankara (IRAM), headed by Prof. Ahmet Uysal.

According to Ozturk, IRAM, which was formed last year, provides different points of views in its studies on Iran.

Thanking Anadolu Agency officials for the visit, Uysal said the main aim of IRAM was to contribute towards presenting Iran objectively and scientifically. He added the studies would also focus on Iran’s economy and social structure.

IRAM aims to generate solid and objective information and analyses about Iran and related issues. The main objective of IRAM is to provide insights into the recent developments in Iran, especially about its economy and culture as well as its domestic and foreign affairs, he said.

IRAM will host the international "Durability and Change in North Africa, Turkey and Iran" symposium in April in Ankara, he added.