Turkish and Azerbaijani media met for the second time: KGK delegation followed historical traces from Shusha to Khojaly

Media friendship is back on stage in Azerbaijan
 
The 2nd Turkey-Azerbaijan Media Meeting, organized in cooperation with the Global Journalists Council (KGK) and the Press Council (MS), the official media organ of Azerbaijan, was held in Azerbaijan between 27-31 May 2025. The first meeting was held in Baku on 13-16 October 2019.
 
The program, which started in Ganja, covered four cities
 
Nearly 50 journalists who are members of the KGK and veteran journalist Yavuz Donat also attended the event. The program started with a landing at Ganja Airport. The journalists who went on a city tour in Ganja visited the Turkish Martyrs' Cemetery, the house of Nuri Pasha, which was turned into a museum by TİKA, and historical places.

Historical structures and traces of resistance were examined in Shusha
 
The delegation then went by road to Shusha, the symbolic city of Karabakh. Journalists who visited the new settlement areas conducted interviews with locals. Many areas were visited, from the Cıdır Düzü hill to the historical city walls. The restoration of mosques and masjids in Shusha was examined on site.
 
Traces of genocide seen in Khojaly
 
On the way back to Baku, the delegation also visited Khojaly, where Armenian militia carried out a major massacre. Here, the delegation met with witnesses and observed the painful past of the region firsthand.

Artificial intelligence and journalism were discussed
 
The main theme of the Media Forum held at the Center for Analysis of International Relations in Baku was artificial intelligence. The forum began with the opening speeches of the Press Council President Reşat Macit and KGK General President Mehmet Ali Dim. The forum was moderated by the President of the Azerbaijan Parliamentary Journalists Union Elşad Eyvazlı.
 
SODIMER President Prof. Dr. Levent Eraslan addressed the topic of 'Artificial Intelligence Journalism', while AIPA President Zafer Küçükşabanoğlu addressed the question of 'What kind of future awaits the world with artificial intelligence?' NTV Representative Merih Ak made a presentation on 'The future of journalism, artificial intelligence and social media.' A question-and-answer session was held at the end of the forum.

Hikmet Hajiyev met with journalists
 
Vice President of Azerbaijan and Chief Foreign Policy Advisor Hikmet Hajiyev met with the media delegation in Baku. Hajiyev made statements about the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process, relations with Turkey and the Zangezur Corridor. He stated that changing the Karabakh article in the Armenian Constitution is a condition for peace.
 
Hajiyev stated that Azerbaijan maintains strategic relations with Israel but always stands by the Palestinian people. He also said that Turkey and Syria and regional stability issues are in full harmony. At the end of the meeting, Hajiyev was presented with a plaque of appreciation by the KGK delegation.
 
National Assembly and Embassy programs
 
Journalists also visited the Azerbaijani National Assembly and received information about legislative work. A souvenir photo was taken in the Assembly hall. At the reception held in their honor at the Turkish Embassy in Baku, the delegation met with the Turkish Ambassador to Baku, Prof. Dr. Birol Akgün.

It ended with a visit to the martyrs' cemetery and a tour of Baku
 
The program continued with a visit to the Turkish Martyrs' Cemetery and the mausoleums of Turkish soldiers in Baku. On the last day, places such as Victory Park, Icherishehir and Heydar Aliyev Center were visited.

Mehmet Ali Dim: 'These meetings strengthen brotherhood'
 
KGK Chairman Mehmet Ali Dim evaluated the event with the following words:
 
'We are honored to have completed the 2nd media meeting in Azerbaijan after 6 years. As the Turkish media, we are united with Azerbaijan with the philosophy of "Two States, One Nation, One Media". Such events should be held more frequently. No power can sow discord between us. I would like to thank everyone who contributed.'

Source: CUMHA - CUMHURS NEWS AGENCY