Marking BYEGM's 90th anniversary, Arinc stresses the importance of public diplomacy

As part of celebrations marking the 90th anniversary of the Prime Ministry Directorate General of Press and Information (BYEGM), a photo exhibit covering BYEGM's history from the 1920s onwards opened at Parliament yesterday with a ceremony attended by Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, BYEGM head Murat Karakaya, Turkish Association of Journalists (TGC) head Orhan Erinç, and Anatolia News Agency head Hilmi Bengi, as well as journalists who placed in a BYEGM contest to encourage local media and the directorate staff. Speaking at the ceremony, Arinc praised BYEGM's efforts to promote Turkey around the world and to counter negative propaganda against the country. Stressing the importance of public diplomacy in the modern world as a tool to sway international opinion in line with a country's foreign policy goals, as well as to improve dialogue and understanding between nations, Arinc said Ataturk and his colleagues had foreseen this in establishing BYEGM back in the 1920s. Pointing to a major transformation of the need for promotion and spreading information throughout the world over the last 90 years, Arinc said that activities such as news bulletins and brochures had become professionalized due to globalization and advances in media technology. "Multi-page bulletins have come to be replaced by hundreds of kinds of professional works such as advertising clips, promotional films, books, magazines, materials produced by think-tanks, lobbying efforts, and the activities of non-governmental organizations," he said. Expressing faith that the directorate will continue to provide vital services to Turkey and keep up with its Western counterparts amid rapid change, Arinc said, "BYEGM is one of the Republic of Turkey's most strongly rooted institutions. Its history, experience and qualified staff will be key advantages in its efforts to revamp itself to serve the country more actively." The exhibit shows BYEGM's deep-rooted history and sound institutional traditions, Arinc added.