BYEGM head melek honored for his support of the Turkish press

During yesterday's Golden Pencil Awards held by the Association of Economic Reporters (EMD) in Ankara, Prime Ministry Directorate General of Press and Information (BYEGM) head Salih Melek was presented with a plaque by EMD head Ozlem Doganer in recognition of his successful efforts to provide better working conditions to press members, and to raise the standards of the Turkish media. Speaking at the ceremony, which was also attended by State Minister for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan, Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz, and Anatolia News Agency head Hilmi Bengi in addition to many guests and domestic and foreign reporters, Melek said, "Turkey's most liberal press law ever was enacted in 2004 with key contributions from BYEGM, and this law is being taken as a model by various countries." Pledging continued support to the Turkish media, Melek also said, "As long as the BYEGM remains stronger, the Turkish press will be stronger and freer as well." For his part, Doganer said, "The BYEGM has always stood by press members," thanking Melek and the BYEGM staff for supporting the Turkish press. In recent years, BYEGM has experienced a major institutional, physical and technical restructuring with a steady effort to keep pace with the needs of our time by incorporating the latest technology into its daily work. It is also striving for thoroughly established democracy and freedom of expression in Turkey, getting closely involved with problems facing domestic and foreign reporters covering news in Turkey.