Minority newspapers happy with 250.000 TL cash grant

Representatives of minority-run newspapers in Turkey have said they are overjoyed at a 250,000 TL grant from the country’s Press Bulletin Authority (BIK). BIK regularly pays newspapers to print official bulletins and announcements as a form of official support for publications although minority newspapers had not received any of the funds since 1983, said Mehmet Atalay, the authority’s general manager. Dailies Jamanag (Time), Marmara, Apoyevmatini and Iho have all received 45,000 liras, while weeklies Agos and Salom have received 35,000 liras. Because their circulation is very low, minority newspapers need to be supported, Ari Haddeler, Marmara’s editor-in-chief, told the Hurriyet Daily News, adding that he was immensely grateful to the Turkish state. “This amount is just for 2011; there will be more grants in the future,” said Haddeler, adding that the grants were apparently nonrefundable.