Treasury gains full control of Anatolia News Agency

ANKARA – Anatolia News Agency

Turkey’s state-run Anatolia News Agency (AA) issued a written statement yesterday in response to claims regarding the transfer of its shares to the general manager, saying that the Turkish Treasury had gained full control of the press organization.

After a recent capital increase, the Treasury gained all administrative and financial rights to the company, the statement said.

The office of the General Directorate has acquired some shares in line with the New Turkish Trade Law, the statement said.

With the recent move, General Manager Kemal Öztürk took some shares, but the statement by the state-controlled agency said it was assured that these would be transferred to upcoming general managers as well.

Anatolia said since 1920 its corporate shares have been complex and disorganized, with a majority of shares, 47.75 percent, belonging to the Turkish Prime Ministry Undersecretariat of Treasury.

The owners of some 42.25 percent could even be identified, Anatolia said.

“With 40 years of inconclusive efforts to find the shareholders, Anatolia news agency sometimes has difficulty in holding its shareholders’ meetings,” the statement read.

All the transactions and regulations were made properly in consultation with the parties concerned, it said.