Turkic states meet in Ankara to combat disinformation

Senior officials and media leaders from Turkic states have met in Ankara to strengthen cooperation against disinformation and deepen coordination in the information sphere.

The forum was organised by Türkiye’s presidency and brought together officials and media representatives from across the Turkic world, alongside the Secretariat of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS).

Ömer Kocaman, deputy secretary general of the OTS, said closer coordination among Turkic states was needed to counter disinformation, improve media literacy, strengthen information security and promote responsible digital communication.

He said the forum built on the outcomes of the seventh OTS meeting on media and information, held in Baku, and aimed to turn shared commitments into practical action.

Speakers warned that disinformation, particularly what they described as anti-Turkic and anti-Islamic narratives, undermines trust and damages relations, calling for coordinated efforts across both traditional and digital platforms.

A panel discussion titled "Turkic media’s role in building a common future" focused on how media can help shape a shared future, preserve cultural memory and strengthen political, economic and social ties among Turkic nations.

Participants also highlighted the need to develop a shared information space, establish common media standards and strengthen digital cooperation across the region.

Panel discussions and presentations throughout the forum addressed combating disinformation, strategic communication, media literacy and practical avenues for cooperation, with contributions from officials, journalists and media professionals from OTS member states and observer countries.

The opening ceremony featured keynote addresses by Burhanettin Duran, head of communications at the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye; Ahmad Ismayilov, executive director of Azerbaijan’s Media Development Agency; Kanat Iskakov, vice minister of culture and information of Kazakhstan; Marat Tagaev, deputy minister of culture, information and youth policy of Kyrgyzstan; Kobuljon Akhmedov, director of Uzbekistan’s Centre for the Production of Content for Mass Media under the presidential administration; Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, foreign minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; and Ömer Kocaman, deputy secretary general of the Organisation of Turkic States.

Copied