site.btaAnadolu Agency Will Remain at ABNA-SE Helm in 2025

During Thursday's meeting in Istanbul of the Association of Balkan News Agencies - Southeast Europe (ABNA-SE), it was confirmed that the Anadolu Agency will continue to head the organization next year.

The meeting, hosted by the Anadolu Agency, brought together leading representatives of the region's news agencies, including ABNA-SE President and Director General of the Anadolu Agency Serdar Karagoz, who now heads ABNA-SE, together with Deputy Director General and Editor-in-Chief of the Anadolu Agency Yusuf Ozhan, ABNA-SE Secretary General and Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Kiril Valchev and others.

In his opening remarks, Karagoz highlighted the key role that technology plays in media today, drawing attention to the discussions on artificial intelligence at the conference.

"If there's one thing that everyone is talking about - on the streets, in our homes, in schools - it's technology," Karagoz said.

He highlighted Turkiye's leading role in hosting Teknofest, the world's largest technology festival, which attracts nearly 2 million participants annually to witness the latest innovations.

"This year it will be held in the southern Turkish city of Adana and we expect more than 2 million young people and participants aged 10 to 60," he added, underlining how deeply technology is integrated into Turkish society.

"Our children, our students, everyone in this country, we believe that with technology we can build a better world," Karagoz added.

He also recounted how the Anadolu Agency is at the forefront of technological innovation, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence.

"We have a special department in our company that deals with artificial intelligence. I encourage all news agencies to get more involved with technology," Karagoz said.

"It helps our world, makes us more competitive and allows us to better serve our countries," he added.

During the assembly, it was confirmed that the Anadolu Agency will continue to chair ABNA-SE until the end of 2025. During the meeting, Karagoz stressed the importance of supporting joint activities among news agencies, especially those that promote outreach beyond traditional regions.

"So it makes us stronger and more dynamic /.../ I always support this kind of activities and I believe it also helps your potential to reach others," he noted.

"The Anadolu Agency wants to reach out to others - everywhere. The Middle East, Latin America, the Far East - our region is big and we support all alliances and projects," Karagoz said, stressing the importance of building global connections.

The Assembly also decided that the Media Information Agency (MIA) of North Macedonia and ANA-MPA of Greece will join the ABNA-SE board together with the Anadolu Agency and the BTA, thus strengthening the organization's cooperation network.

Participants also discussed upcoming projects and proposals for changes to the regulations for the 2025 meeting. The organization's General Assembly meetings in 2025, 2026 and 2027 will be held in North Macedonia, Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina, respectively.

Dwelling on the outcome of the meeting, Karagoz expressed optimism for the future. "We will be stronger next year than we are today," he said, looking forward to further progress for the organization under the Anadolu Agency leadership.

The ABNA-SE delegation gathered on Tuesday for its 32nd General Assembly and Conference hosted by the Anadolu Agency in Istanbul. Leaders and representatives of news agencies from the Balkans, the Mediterranean and Europe gathered for an opening cocktail reception in Istanbul's Umraniye district.

Wednesday's conference, entitled "Navigating the AI and Media," focused on the meeting point of artificial intelligence and media. Turkiye's Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir attended along with Karagoz and ABNA-SE Secretary General Kiril Valchev.

The General Assembly ended on Thursday with a family photo of the representatives of the ABNA-SE member agencies, followed by a tour of Istanbul and a farewell dinner later.

On September 19, 2022, BTA became the seat of ABNA-SE which brings together 12 news agencies: Albania - Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA); Bosnia and Herzegovina – Federal News Agency (FENA); Bulgaria - Bulgarian News Agency (BTA); Croatia - Croatian News Agency (HINA); Cyprus - Cyprus News Agency (CNA); Greece - Athens News Agency-Macedonian Press Agency (ANA-MPA); Italy - Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA); Kosovo - KosovaPress News Agency (KOSOVAPRESS); Montenegro - Montenegro Independent News Agency (MINA); North Macedonia - Media Information Agency (MIA); Romania - Romanian National News Agency (AGERPRES); and Türkiye - Anadolu Ajansi (AA).

On October 6, 2022, ABNA-SE was registered at the Registry Agency of the Republic of Bulgaria as a non-profit association for the pursuit of private-benefit activities. The decision for that was made at the 30th General Assembly of the organization, held in Burgas on September 19, 2022 and hosted by BTA. Bulgaria was picked to become the seat of the Association and BTA Director General Kiril Valchev became Secretary General of ABNA-SE. The decision was made unanimously by all member agencies.