Azerbaijan's first national news agency celebrates another anniversary in a new office building

Baku, March 1 , AZERTAC

The Azerbaijan State News Agency, AZERTAC, has turned 102. For more than a century, the agency has been writing a chronicle of Azerbaijan: day by day, hour by hour. If all the news and photos from all these years were put together, a full picture of the road our country and our people have covered at different times in their history would be created. Today, the 102-year-old AZERTAC, which occupies a worthy place in the world’s media space and is actively represented on international and regional media platforms, celebrates another anniversary of its establishment in a new world-class office building built by the Order of President Ilham Aliyev.

A journey that began in 1920 - a school of information and translation

If we take a brief look at the history, we will see that AZERTAC, one of the monuments of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, has covered a long and glorious road. Without going into detail, it is enough to mention only a few points. The first national news agency, the Telegraph Agency, was established by a decision of the National Parliament on 1 March 1920 and operated independently for only 58 days. However, it managed to inscribe its name in history even in such a short time.

The fact that the agency has undergone several structural and name changes during the nearly 70-year history of the USSR shows how difficult the agency's path was. The Azerbaijan Telegraph Agency actually became a branch of TASS. It continued to operate to the best of its abilities nonetheless.

A comprehensive turn in the life of AZERTAC began in 1969, when Heydar Aliyev came to power. Fitted with state-of-the-art equipment, the agency soon rose to prominence throughout the USSR, becoming a hub for receiving and transmitting TASS news releases to the republics of the South Caucasus. AZERTAC was the first among the news agencies of Soviet republics to be equipped with “Olivetti’ computers after “Ukrinform”.

AZERTAC has played the role of a real school both in terms of information and translation. It has raised several generations of both journalists and professional translators. One of them was Baghir Seyidzade, a well-known journalist and translator of his time. In 1963, he was appointed Deputy Director of “Azerinform” (former name of AZERTAC).

This is how Baghir Seyidzade’s daughter, Doctor of History, Professor Dilara Seyidzade, recalls her father: “The head of the agency, Yefim Gurvich, used to say that Bagir Seyidzadeh was a machine gunner of translation. He was extremely fluent and agile in translation. My father absolutely enjoyed his work in the agency. When he returned home at 4-5 o'clock in the morning, he was shining inside. He liked it a lot when his young colleagues called him at night asking for help. I was worried about the calls made to him early in the morning, but he was saying that they calls were related to very important issues. I should also note that many prominent journalists of the time, such as Israfil Nazarov, Khasay Vazirov and Nasir Imanguliyev were taking their first steps in the “Young Worker” newspaper together with my father. They worked together for many years, became friends and colleagues. Jamil Alibayov always said that Baghir Seyidzade was his teacher. In my father's view, being a journalist required tremendous responsibility. He said a real journalist should be a historian, a philosopher, an economist and, most importantly, a humanist. My father is remembered as a journalist and diplomat. Despite his multifaceted activities, he remained a journalist to the end of his life. He worked at “Azerinform” until the last day of his life, 2 March 1968”...

In the days of Bloody January, when no newspapers were published and television programs were suspended in the country, AZERTAC journalists were at work. They were posting news bulletins about the events in the country on the walls of buildings in the capital. Photojournalists walked the streets, squares and hospitals, filming the crimes committed by the imperial army. The photos were later published by a number of foreign media. The photo “Tears of a Million Hearts” taken at the funeral of the martyrs on 20 January became famous all over the world.

The agency, whose historical name was reinstated on 18 December 1992, was named the Azerbaijan State Information Agency AZERTAC in 2015.

New address of AZERTAC: 63 Aghasadig Garaybayli Street

AZERTAC, which was based in a number of adapted buildings over the past century, now operates in a new office. President Ilham Aliyev, who was familiarized with the agency’s mew office building on 27 December 2021, was pleased with the conditions available. As mentioned earlier, the nine-storey building (including a basement) constructed by the order of the President has been designed in the form of an octagonal star and has modern newsrooms. The new office has a spacious canteen, a library and a gym.

On the first floor of the building, there are also photo stands describing the participation of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva in various media events, their interviews with local and foreign media, the President’s addresses to the nation during the second Karabakh war, as well as visits to the liberated territories. There is also a museum displaying the technical equipment AZERTAC has used at different times.

As a result of the special attention and care of Mr. President, such a beautiful building is now in place. In total, 225 employees have the opportunity to work effectively, use modern technical means and innovative technologies. It would be no exaggeration to say that very few news agencies have an office with such facilities even in the most developed countries. As the saying goes, seeing is believing. The photos say it all.

How did AZERTAC access the world information space?

One of Azerbaijan’s priority objectives after gaining independence was to access the world’s information space and circulate the truth about our country as widely as possible. Speaking about this, we can’t but recall the words of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in his congratulatory message to the AZERTAC team on the occasion of the agency’s 80th anniversary: “Along with continuing the noble patriotic traditions of our national journalism, AZERTAC must also work towards securing a worthy place in the information space of the world.”

The chairman of the Board of AZERTAC, Aslan Aslanov, recalls: “Heydar Aliyev once told me that AZERTAC should access international information platforms and become a member of OANA (Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies). At that time, not many people even in the field of media were aware of the existence of such an international organization, but Heydar Aliyev not only knew this, he also foresaw the necessity and benefits of membership in this organization. In 2004, we joined OANA and 12 years later we assumed leadership of this organization.”

In the not-so-distant past, Azerbaijan's access to the international information space was very limited. Our news reports were not reaching out to the broad public. On the recommendation of our great leader, AZERTAC took on this important task. We are now one of 13 voting members of the News Agencies World Council. In 2016-2019, AZERTAC chaired the News Agencies World Congress and OANA. The agency has also signed cooperation agreements with about 50 leading news agencies and conducts information exchanges with about 150 agencies.

The partners include broadcasters from all continents, including Turkey's Anadolu, China's Xinhua, Russia's TASS, Iran's IRNA, Japan's KYODO, South Korea's Yonhap, Argentina's TELAM, Saudi Arabia's SPA and other influential news agencies. AZERTAC also closely cooperates with the Associated Press, Reuters, Press Association and DPA within the Council of the News Agencies World Congress and the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA).

In 2016, under the auspices of President Ilham Aliyev, with the support of First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and organizational support from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and AZERTAC, Baku simultaneously hosted the main forums of two leading media organizations - the Fifth News Agencies World Congress and the 16th General Assembly of OANA. President Ilham Aliyev delivered a speech at the opening of the forums and met with a group of participants. Thus, Azerbaijan and AZERTAC have inscribed their name in the history of the world media.

As a result of its expanding international relations, 15,000 news reports, videos and photos reflecting the realities of Azerbaijan, the life of our people and the development of our country are published on the websites of international and regional media outlets and national news agencies every year.

Favorable conditions have been created for the participation of AZERTAC's management and representatives in high-level international events and media forums. This, in turn, has played an important role in gaining an active position in international and regional media, as well as the global recognition of the agency. To get an idea of all this, suffice it to look at the following photos:

London, 17 May 2018, the 150th anniversary of the Press Association. Prince Charles of Wales is meeting with a group of media executives, including AZERTAC.

Hanoi, 19 April 2019. Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives a group of participants of the OANA Executive Board meeting chaired by AZERTAC.

Seoul, 7 November 2019. President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in meets with heads of agencies participating in the 17th OANA General Assembly (the head of the delegation is OANA President Aslan Aslanov).

Patriotic War: AZERTAC on the information front

The 44-day Patriotic War, which resulted in the liberation of our lands occupied for 30 years and the restoration of our territorial integrity, has a special place in the history of Azerbaijan. The war led by President and Victorious Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev was a test for the country's media, including AZERTAC.

Proceeding from the rules of warfare and the principles of providing prompt and accurate information to the public, the AZERTAC team mobilized all its creative and technical potential from the very first hours of the second Karabakh war. Operating in a high-alert mode, the agency covered the course of hostilities and managed to disseminate the truth about the conflict and war all over the world. At the same time, AZERTAC contributed to the fight against fake news spread by the enemy and its supporters. Banners such as “News from the frontline”, “The world should see Armenian fascism”, “Our cities and villages liberated from occupation” were created on the agency's website and all materials on this topic were summarized in relevant sections.

The agency’s crews sent to the frontline were filming Armenian provocations despite the incessant firing. Hundreds of photos, videos and news reports about the treacherous attacks of the Armenian armed forces on the civilian population, the shelling of settlements were prepared on a daily basis and published on the agency's website in seven foreign languages. Partner news agencies of about 50 countries and other leading world media cited AZERTAC's information as a reliable source of coverage of the war.

At the same time, the agency's foreign correspondents made numerous media appearances and gave TV and radio interviews.

The agency's team were also closely involved in archiving the devastation committed by Armenia in the liberated territories and conveying the true face of Armenian fascism to the international community. Despite the danger of mines, they walked and filmed the ravaged cities and villages. Unfortunately, the agency had victims too. On 4 June 2021, AZERTAC correspondent Maharram Ibrahimov and Azerbaijan Television operator Siraj Abishov were killed by a landmine in Kalbajar district.

Today, our correspondents cover the extensive restoration work underway in free Karabakh, sharing good news with the audience.

New information policy against the background of new realities and challenges

Victory in the Patriotic War has created new realities in the region. Today, Karabakh destroyed by the enemy is reminiscent of a major construction site. The voices of AZERTAC correspondents now come from Shusha, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Jabrayil, Lachin, Kalbajar, Aghdam and other districts. Many of their reports, photos and videos are also published in partner media.

In the past, AZERTAC broadcast only in two languages (Azerbaijani and Russian). Today, the agency broadcasts news in six additional languages - English, German, French, Arabic, Chinese and Spanish. Also, for the first time in the region, the agency circulates video footage in five languages.

The information policy of the Agency is, first of all, aligned with the growing interest in Azerbaijan, a country developing dynamically and modernizing through revolutionary reforms. At present, AZERTAC has 21 correspondent offices abroad. Today, the main goal is to improve the quality of information and enhance the agency’s competitiveness.

AZERTAC, a witness to Azerbaijan’s history since the 1920s, is now writing a chronicle of the 21st century. All the creative and technical resources of the agency have been mobilized to disseminate information about the country's successes, including large-scale reconstruction work in the liberated areas.

As is evident, over the past 102 years, the life of AZERTAC has changed a lot. Old equipment has been replaced with new technologies, enabling news to be delivered anywhere in the world in the blink of an eye. But there is only one thing that has not changed: just like 102 years ago, AZERTAC remains the address of objective and accurate news.