Turkey’s state news agency starts broadcasting in Kurdish

ISTANBUL

Bülent Arınç said the ageny could be a bridge between different cultures. AA photo

Turkey’s state news agency, Anadolu Agency, began broadcasting in Kurdish Sept.1 in the language’s Kurmanji and Sorani dialects.

Anadolu Agency, which recently opened an office in Arbil in northern Iraq, has started Kurdish wire service in the two dialects as part of its aim of becoming “one of the world’s top five news agencies by 2020,” said the agency.

Apart from Turkish, the agency also broadcasts in English, Arabic, Bosnian and Russian.

“The Kurdish News Desk Service will broadcast developments in politics, the economy, sports, tourism, culture and life in Turkey and the world in the Kurmanji and Sorani dialects with photo and video for the region,” said Anadolu Agency.

The Kurdish News Desk will employ a team of 40 people based in Ankara and Arbil. The agency will also open offices in Suleymaniyah and Kirkuk in Iraq.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said the agency would act as a bridge between Kurds and Turks thanks to its broadcasts in Kurdish.

“Anadolu Agency will be a powerful bridge between Turkey and the Kurdish community with Kurdish broadcasts, as well as in other languages like Bosnian,” he said.