Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) President Mehmet Daniş held a meeting with Ahmet Ismayilov, President of the Azerbaijan Media and Broadcasting Council, on the sidelines of the CICA Media Forum, held in Baku under the theme “Building Trust Through Media in a Polarized World.

Strengthening the Exchange of Experience and Institutional Coordination

During the meeting, discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan in the fields of media and broadcasting, promoting the exchange of knowledge, experience and strengthening institutional coordination. It was also emphasized that the deep-rooted fraternal ties between the two countries are reflected in and further reinforced by their institutional cooperation in the media and broadcasting sectors.

The experience-sharing program among the regulatory authorities also addressed a range of topics, including combating disinformation, digital transformation, licensing, digital media services, media literacy and protection of children.

The “Two States, One Nation” Approach in Media Cooperation

During the meeting, it was emphasized that the “Two States, One Nation” approach constitutes a strong foundation for the relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan. It was noted that the close ties between the two countries continue to develop not only through their historical and cultural bonds but also through strong institutional cooperation mechanisms. 

“Digital Homeland” Emphasis from RTÜK President Daniş in Baku

The President of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), Mehmet Daniş, participated in the First CICA Media Forum, held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, under the umbrella of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), with the theme “Building Trust Through Media in a Polarized World.”

At the forum, President Daniş noted that security has now transcended physical borders. Daniş stated, “The concept of the ‘Digital Homeland’ is not merely about protecting technical infrastructure. It also expresses the determination to build institutional and societal resilience against manipulation and disinformation attempts that target our societies’ access to the truth and our social harmony.”

 “The Importance of Multilateral Organizations Such as CICA Grows”

President Daniş stated that the Forum would provide an important opportunity to discuss the role of the media in today’s international system, which is increasingly shaped by geopolitical tensions. Referring to the importance of dialogue and cooperation among CICA member states in the media sector, he said: “We will discuss the role of the media in today’s international system, which is fraught with geopolitical tensions. I hope that our exchange of views on this timely topic will be enlightening in terms of cooperation in the media sector among CICA member countries. The challenges posed by the many global trials we face and the resulting climate of uncertainty are eroding trust in multilateral structures in international relations. For this reason, the importance of multilateral organizations such as CICA grows. It is of great importance to make more effective use of intergovernmental cooperation mechanisms like CICA in resolving the problems facing humanity.”

Recalling that Türkiye is one of the founding members of CICA, President Daniş noted that establishing a culture of Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) among CICA member states constitutes one of the Conference’s fundamental pillars. He expressed his belief that these mechanisms, which aim to foster mutual trust and dialogue, can play a guiding role in addressing common challenges.

“We Are Living in an Age Where Digital Platforms and Cyberspace Have Become Part of Our Sphere of Sovereignty”

Commenting on Türkiye’s “Digital Homeland” and “Cyber Homeland” vision, RTÜK President Mehmet Daniş noted that digitalization has brought a new dimension to the concept of security. He stated:

“Under the leadership of our President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, our country has developed the ‘Digital Homeland’ and ‘Cyber Homeland’ vision in response to this new threat environment. We are living in an era where security is no longer limited to our physical borders, and digital platforms and cyberspace have also become part of our sphere of sovereignty.”

Official Launch of T-BRAF, Initiated Under the Leadership of RTÜK, to Be Celebrated at TDT Summit in Ankara in October

President Daniş noted that it was particularly significant that the first concrete step in the process of the Forum of Regulatory Authorities for Broadcasting in Turkic States (T-BRAF) was taken in Azerbaijan. “As part of our 2019–2023 Strategic Plan, we launched an initiative—which we formalized in 2021 following a decision by our Supreme Council—to establish a forum among the broadcasting regulatory authorities of member and observer countries of the Organization of Turkic States: T-BRAF, or the Turkic States Regulatory Authorities Forum. At the meeting held in Baku and Shusha in 2022, audiovisual media regulators from member and observer countries of the Organization of Turkic States signed a declaration of intent to establish T-BRAF,” he said.

Stating that the draft statutes and joint declaration texts have been finalized in collaboration with member countries, President Daniş commented on the current status of T-BRAF’s institutionalization process: “I am pleased to note that the official establishment of T-BRAF is expected to be formalized on the occasion of the 13th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States, which will be hosted by our country in Ankara in October. Summit, to be held in Ankara under our country’s hosting in October. As the T-BRAF experience has shown, the permanent communication channels established among regulatory bodies are of great importance not only in terms of producing joint responses to current issues but also in developing a shared understanding of the media landscape of the future.”

Call for Collaboration in the Media Sector Among CICA Member Countries

RTÜK President Daniş expressed his belief that Türkiye’s unifying and inclusive vision in this field would contribute to fostering a climate of mutual trust among CICA member countries. He concluded his remarks as follows: “Data security, the ethical responsibility of the mass media, the impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies on the media, the fight against disinformation, and joint media literacy initiatives stand out as key areas where we can collaborate in the coming period. Our primary objective should not be to simply replicate one another’s regulatory models, but rather to develop a shared understanding of common challenges by drawing on our diverse national experiences. The vision put forward by CICA offers a significant opportunity in this regard. While each country has its own legal framework, media landscape, and social dynamics, ensuring access to reliable information, strengthening digital resilience in our societies, and fostering mutual trust in the information sphere are matters of common interest. I believe that Türkiye’s unifying and inclusive vision in this field will contribute to fostering a climate of mutual trust among all CICA member countries. Guided by the belief that ‘Together We Will Succeed,’ we will continue to advance information security across Asia through collective wisdom, solidarity, and mutual trust.”