The Medialog Platform went to Damascus with a delegation headed by Erkam Tufan Aytav in order to contact media organizations in Syria. High level meetings were held with authorities from the Journalists Association, the Arab Writers Foundation, Syrian Television and the Sevra newspaper. As a final stop, the delegation was received by Syrian Minister of Information, Muhsin Bilal. At the meeting which was held at Syria Television, Bilal met the delegation at the door. The meeting took place in a warm atmosphere, and evaluating developing relations between the two countries, ways were sought to reflect this in the areas of the press and media.

In his speech made during the reception, Bilal pointed out that Turkey and Syria shared a common past, history and culture, and he said that closer relations would serve the stability of the region. Bilal stated, “Many agreements were signed in the political, economic and business areas. These agreements will carry our relations to a much better level. However, it is vital that these relations be carried to the media area and supported there.  We as the Syrian party are ready for every kind of cooperation and effort to be made in this respect. We are open to every kind of project.”

Indicating that the real purpose of the visit was to carry the existing good relations between the two countries to the media field, Tufan Erkam Aytav added that in this sense important work was to be done. Saying that the work and cooperation regarding this exemplary relationship between Turkey and Syria to be made in the media field would be developed with projects, Aytav thanked Minister Bilal for his support.

Both parties agreed to arrange common media meetings immediately after the visit. First a Turkey-Syria media meeting is planned to be arranged in Istanbul towards the end of February.

Kanal Turk General Broadcasting Director Tarık Toros, Star Gazette General Publishing Assistant Director and Columnist  Ibrahim Kiras and Cihan News Agency Damascus Representative Bostan Cemiloğlu participated in the visit program. 02/26/2010