Director of Communications Altun said, "TRT Balkan will explain and communicate our country’s arguments, struggle, and pursuit of truth to the Balkans in the most accurate and competent manner," in his speech at the TRT Balkan Digital News Platform Launch Event.
Presidency’s Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun began his speech by wishing that the project would bring kindness and beauty to Türkiye, the region and the whole world, and said, "TRT Balkan’s human-centred broadcasting approach will contribute to regional and global peace and stability."
Stating that the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) followed three fundamental principles in broadcasting, Director of Communications Altun said, "TRT grounds itself on the principles of, first and foremost, continuous innovation, secondly, strong institutionalisation, and thirdly, visionary growth. This project is a concrete example of combining these three fundamental principles. TRT strives to implement this approach of continuous innovation, strong institutionalisation, and visionary growth not only at home but also in the international arena. "
Director of Communications Altun emphasised that TRT’s international channels and digital platforms were growing stronger day by day and expanding their sphere of influence and stated that they were all witnessing a historic moment today.
Stating that TRT Arabic, TRT World, digital platforms, TRT Russian, TRT German and TRT French started broadcasting respectively, and TRT Balkan joined this family today, Director of Communications Altun said, "We see that TRT continues its broadcasting in 41 languages and dialects. We are proud of this."
"It will hold an exceptional place in the hearts of the Balkan peoples"
Director of Communications Altun stated that TRT Balkan had previously addressed the Balkan region with broadcasts in Albanian and Bosnian on TRT Avaz, but it will now become an independent platform and produce content in Albanian, Bosnian, and Macedonian, and said, "I believe that these contents will hold an exceptional place in the Balkan region and the hearts of the Balkan peoples."
Pointing out that TRT Balkan will also broadcast on social networks, Director of Communications Altun said, "I think this is important for two reasons: First, broadcasting on social networks is important for reaching much larger audiences, and second, it will create an alternative media climate and environment within the uniform broadcasting field where a number of social media companies in social networks are trying to dominate. In this regard, I believe it is critical that TRT Balkan broadcasts on social networks."
Director of Communications Altun went on to say:
"Türkiye grows stronger and becomes a regional and global power under the leadership of our President. Parallel to this internationalisation process, TRT, for sure, has internationalised and has been transforming itself into a global brand in line with this new circumstance, this new position, and this new claim. TRT endeavours to be the voice of just, of truth, and of those who have been silenced in the international arena for the development of a fairer world, and presents a strong, fair, and just broadcast performance in the international arena in line with our President’s saying "The world is bigger than five" and his call "A fairer world is possible" on international platforms."
Recalling that the Balkan region was the scene of tremendous suffering and destruction in the modern era, Director of Communications Altun said that the Balkans witnessed genocides and massacres on an unprecedented scale in the heart of Europe.
Expressing his wish that these sufferings would never be repeated and that the region would enjoy peace, prosperity and stability, Director of Communications Altun pointed out that they exerted a great effort under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Pointing out that they regard the cultural, religious and ethnic diversity of the Balkan region as richness, Director of Communications Altun said, "Our President says, ‘Türkiye is also a Balkan country with its history, people and cultural features and roots,’ which is a significant statement. This statement expresses our perspective on the Balkan region quite clearly. We do not regard the prosperity, peace, and stability of the Balkans as distinct from the prosperity, stability, and peace of our own country."
Stating that he also contributed to translating the late Alija Izetbegovic's " My Witness to History” into Turkish, with the guidance of the late Akif Emre, Director of Communications Altun noted that Izetbegovic included a specific memory in his work.
Wishing Allah's mercy upon Izetbegovic and Emre, Director of Communications Altun remarked that in his memoir, Izetbegovic mentioned a soldier asking him, "When peace prevails in the future, will justice prevail too or will it vanish?"
"TRT Balkan will serve as the strong voice of the Balkan region in the international arena"
Stating that Izetbegovic answered, "No, unfortunately, injustice will still be there when peace prevails, justice will not prevail when peace does, and you will have to fight for justice just like you do now against your enemies," Director of Communications said:
"Justice is such a precious, exceptional merit in this context, one that humanity must fight for. I believe that TRT Balkan will also play an important role in our country's struggle for justice in the international arena under the leadership of our esteemed President, and it will be one of the pillars of this struggle for justice in the Balkan region and I believe that TRT Balkan will be the strong voice of the Balkan region in the international arena. TRT Balkan will convey the realities of the region to the rest of the world through the eyes and voices of regional actors, not those of foreign powers. TRT Balkan will reflect the region's ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity. TRT Balkan's human-centred broadcasting approach will contribute to regional and global peace and stability. TRT Balkan will, without a doubt, explain and communicate to the Balkans our country's arguments, struggle, and pursuit of truth in the most accurate and competent manner."
Director of Communications Altun thanked those who contributed to the project, wishing that the channel would be auspicious for Türkiye, the Balkans, and the rest of the world, and reiterating that they would always stand behind those involved in this endeavour.
Türkiye's Chief Ombudsman Şeref Malkoç, Anadolu Agency (AA) Chairman of the Board and Director-General Serdar Karagöz and some ambassadors also participated in the event.
