Anadolu marks 106th anniversary with visit to Anitkabir, mausoleum of founder Ataturk

Anadolu Agency on Monday marked its 106th anniversary with an official ceremony at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the agency’s founder and the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, with Anadolu President and Director-General Serdar Karagoz leading a delegation to honor Ataturk.

Karagoz, accompanied by Deputy Directors-General Yusuf Ozhan and Oguz Enis Peru, along with other agency officials and staff, laid a wreath of red and white carnations bearing the agency’s name at Anitkabir.

Following a moment of silence, the delegation posed for a commemorative photograph before proceeding to the Misak-i Milli Tower, where Karagoz signed the Anitkabir Memorial Guestbook.

In his message, Karagoz wrote that the agency, founded under Ataturk’s leadership during the Turkish War of Independence to convey the nation’s righteous cause to the world, continues to fulfill its mission with the same determination.

He noted that Anadolu has expanded its role globally, operating in 13 languages across 137 countries and producing millions of pieces of content, while continuing to serve as “the voice of truth” and amplifying the voices of the oppressed.

On the agency’s coverage of Israel’s actions in Gaza, Karagoz said Anadolu journalists documented developments on the ground in great detail and presented them to the international public in its books The Evidence, The Witness, and The Perpetrator.

He added that the ongoing Mideast conflict has emerged as another major issue affecting regional and global balances, with Anadolu continuing to provide original reporting on developments in the region.

Highlighting Türkiye’s geopolitical position, Karagoz said the country remains a strong and secure state under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan amid rising global tensions.

He said Anadolu aims to rank among the top three international news agencies, supported by its human resources, technological infrastructure, and global vision, and commemorated those who lost their lives for Türkiye’s independence, along with distinguished veterans, including Ataturk.

Anadolu, founded on April 6, 1920 as directed by Ataturk during the Turkish War of Independence, seeking to keep the public informed in the face of provocations that could undermine national unity and to announce decisions shaping the national struggle, this year is marking its 106th anniversary.

*Writing by Seyit Kurt