Ankara: Targeted disinformation campaigns against Turkic-speaking countries can only be effectively countered through professional media solidarity and coordinated action, said Faig Mahmudov, Head of the International Relations and Analytics Department of APA Information Agency, during his speech at the Turkic States Forum on Combating Disinformation held in Ankara under the organization of the Communications Directorate of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Trkiye.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Mahmudov noted the recent spread of disinformation and fake news about Azerbaijan in some media outlets of brotherly Trkiye. The dissemination of such information, based on unfounded claims and without consulting the official position of the Azerbaijani side, is met with concern in Azerbaijan. Mahmudov stressed that verifying information is not a difficult process and can prevent the spread of fake information by requesting Azerbaijan’s stance on an issue and utilizing support from Azerbaijani colleagues.
Mahmudov emphasized that Azerbaijan’s Media Development Agency, APA News Agency, and other domestic media outlets respond promptly by publishing clarifications when such situations arise. He suggested that if official institutions in countries where disinformation is spread take similar steps, false and misleading information can be neutralized in a timely manner, limiting its dissemination and manipulation of public opinion.
Highlighting the deliberate nature of disinformation, Mahmudov underlined the importance of solidarity in combating this threat. He recalled the establishment of the Azerbaijan-Turkiye Joint Media Platform in 2021, with one of its objectives being joint efforts against disinformation internationally and providing accurate information to the global public.
Mahmudov proposed that this platform could model the creation of a common media platform among Turkic-speaking countries, enabling the sharing of knowledge, experience, and resources in the media sphere, as well as coordinated action against disinformation. He advocated for a balanced and responsible approach based on verified information, free from emotions, especially during crisis periods and on sensitive issues, emphasizing that this stance arises from professional responsibility rather than political positions.