Joint Media Cooperation .. Another Step to Deepen Qatari-Turkish Relations

Doha, October 14 (QNA) - In recent years, Qatari-Turkish relations have witnessed remarkable development in various political, economic, and cultural fields, and they are still continuously developing in light of the mutual keenness of both sides to strengthen them and launch them to broader horizons. With the growing development in relations, and to give it the appropriate impetus, the media in the two countries were keen to strengthen cooperation between them to serve common interests and show the extent of the great development in bilateral cooperation between the two fraternal countries. This is because, in this era, the media plays a role in highlighting facts and positions on all issues. In line with the eighth meeting of the Qatari-Turkish Joint High Strategic Committee, the two countries seek to enhance cooperation in the media field and news exchange between them. In this regard, HE Director-General of Qatar News Agency (QNA) Ahmed Said Al Rumaihi stressed the importance of enhancing media cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkey due to the media's role in highlighting the various aspects of the Qatari-Turkish relations and the level they have reached. He referred to the general role played by the media in the process of building international relations and diplomatic work, especially during this era, which is characterized by the intensive flow of information. Therefore, the recipient needs reliable sources to draw information. He stressed that the power and influence of the media have prompted several countries to invest a lot of money in developing their media discourse directed to the outside world, as the media, known as soft power, has proven to be an influential force in international relations in general. Al Rumaihi added that QNA signed in December 2021 an agreement for cooperation and joint news exchange with the Turkish Anadolu Agency, exchanging experiences and training in the media field in a manner that serves the interests of the two fraternal countries. He also affirmed QNA's keenness, as part of its development plan, to enhance cooperation with various international media and benefit from its expertise in media training. For his part, the Director General of Anadolu Agency Serdar Karagoz praised the good reputation Qatari media enjoys in Turkey, especially QNA. In an interview with QNA, he said that the Anadolu Agency is open to strengthening media cooperation with various Qatari media. He highlighted a favorable opportunity for QNA and Anadolu Agency to enhance cooperation, especially since joint work would contribute to the consolidation of relations and closer rapprochement between the two fraternal countries and people and confirm the importance of strengthening cooperation in the commercial, political and cultural fields. Regarding the cooperation agreement signed between the two agencies, he said that positive steps have been taken in this area, and during the implementation of the agreement, other areas will appear for the agencies to enhance cooperation, noting the importance of the cooperation agreement for the two sides. In his remarks to QNA, the Director General of Anadolu Agency expressed his hope to enhance media cooperation between Qatar and Turkey through the exchange of experiences and cooperation in the training field, noting that Anadolu Agency has distinguished training programs for reporters and journalists, in which editors and photographers from all over the world participate. He also stressed that Anadolu Agency has a desire to sign agreements to share news content with the Qatar News Agency (QNA). Anadolu Agency has a news tracking program that secures communication and follow-up of correspondents, and that cooperation with QNA can be done in this aspect, he pointed out. In this regard, he affirmed Anadolu Agency's readiness to develop this program and make any amendments requested by QNA. On the other hand, Director General of Anadolu Agency Serdar Karagoz confirmed that the agency has prepared well to cover the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 activities, hosted in the State of Qatar from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18, with an integrated team of reporters and photojournalists to report the most prominent global event to all parts of the world. Karagoz said that the team includes 17 reporters and photojournalists who will be in Doha for a month to report the video news extensively for this exceptional event, which is being organized for the first time in the region. He praised the great preparations and efforts made by the State of Qatar to organize this tournament in this regard. On the relations between the two countries, he said that Qatar and Turkey are fraternal countries with many common interests. There is partnership and cooperation between the two countries in the commercial, political, media, and other fields. Regarding the eighth meeting of the Qatari-Turkish Joint High Strategic Committee, he said that he is looking forward to signing important agreements in many fields to enhance cooperation between the two countries, noting that the meeting will also discuss the results achieved regarding the agreements signed in previous sessions. In December 2021, QNA and the Turkish Anadolu Agency signed an agreement for cooperation and joint news exchange between them. The agreement, which the distinguished Cabinet agreed at its meeting on Feb. 23 to take steps to ratify, aims to strengthen professional cooperation, provide better information, and confirm the establishment of a regular exchange of content on developments in the State of Qatar and the sisterly Republic of Turkey. Under the agreement, expertise and technical assistance will be exchanged through communication between editors, professional and technical experts, reporters, and photojournalists of each of the two agencies, as well as cooperation in the field of media and news training, and the exchange of visits between the two sides. (QNA)