ATNA STATUTE

STATUTE OF THE ALLIANCE OF TURKIC NEWS AGENCIES (ATNA)

 

 

SECTION ONE - ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSES

Article 1. Name of the Alliance

The name of the Alliance constituted by the news agencies of the Turkic States is the Alliance of Turkic News Agencies, and its abbreviation is ATNA.

Article 2. Centre of the Alliance

The centre of the Alliance is the city, where the term president’s agency is located.

 

Article 3. Purpose and Field of Activity of the Alliance

Purpose and field of activity of the Alliance is;

• Transmission of the news about the Turkic States to the world in a first-hand, accurate, and impartial way by strengthening the concept of press freedom and quality journalism,
• Protection and development of common interests of the members for their activities,
• Cooperation with the members in the field of journalism and technical issues,
• Strengthening professional cooperation,
• Organizing seminars, conferences, workshops and trips for the members and other agencies,
• Consideration of professional, legal, technical, and commercial issues in the field of the press as a whole,
• Improving communication and cooperation with other regional and international agency alliances around the world,
• Improving the training opportunities.

 

Article 4. Legal Status

It is a free, independent, professional, and non-profit alliance consisting of the news agencies of the Turkic States. 

 

Article 5. Statute Members

They are AA (Türkiye), Azertac (Azerbaijan), Kabar (Kyrgyzstan), Qazcontent (Kazakhstan), and Uza (Uzbekistan) news agencies.

 

 

SECTION TWO - MEMBERSHIP CLAUSES

 

Article 6. Requirements for Membership 

The Alliance adopts a news agency from each State as a member if the agency meets the following requirements;

• Being one of the news agencies of the Turkic States,
• Accepting and signing the Statute of the Alliance,
• Being an agency representing its State in the field of press,
• Not having attitudes contrary to press freedom, discrimination, hate speech, and ideological content in its Statute and publications.

 

Article 7. Types of Membership

The Alliance consists of members and observer members.

The observer members do not have the right to vote, and cannot be elected to the organs of the Alliance. 

 

Article 8. Application for Membership

The news agency that wants to become a member makes a written application to the Executive Board for submission to the General Assembly of the Alliance, declaring that it meets the necessary requirements, will fulfil the obligations set out in the Statute, accepts and signs the Statute and agrees to pay the established monthly/annual dues.

 The membership application is registered by the Executive Board and is placed on the agenda of the first General Assembly meeting after the application.

The Executive Board considers whether the news agency is internationally recognized and meets the membership criteria specified in the Article 6 of the Statute.

 The Executive Board may submit its decision on accepting or rejecting the application in question to the vote at the General Assembly.

 In order to become an observer member, it is required to apply to the General Secretariat in writing, provided that it is at least two months before the General Assembly. The General Assembly raises the issue at the first meeting and decides on it by a majority of votes. 

 

Article 9. Gaining Membership

The membership application is approved by the present members at the General Assembly upon the proposal of the Executive Board by a majority (2/3) of votes. This condition is not required for the agencies that have gained the title of “Statute Member” by adopting this Statute.

Article 10. Rights of Members

Every agency that is a member of the Alliance has equal rights within the Alliance. Each agency has one voting right at the General Assembly meetings. 

 

Article 11. Membership Fees and Other Obligations

Each agency is obliged to pay the amount determined annually and approved by the General Assembly no later than the first three months after the General Assembly date, taking into account the budget submitted by the Executive Board. 

 The annual increase in the membership fees is designated by the General Assembly. 

If the fees are not paid on time, a written warning is sent to the relevant member. A member that does not fulfil the requirement despite receiving a written warning is suspended or removed from membership.

Donations and membership fees are kept in a bank account at the Alliance’s centre. 

 

Article 12. Spontaneous Termination of Membership

If the conditions required to become a member disappear, the membership of the relevant agency to the Alliance automatically expires.

 

Article 13. Resignation from Membership

The agency that is a member of the Alliance has the right to resign at any time. The request for resignation is sent to the General Secretariat of the Alliance in writing. The agency that decided to resign undertakes to pay the outstanding dues for the past period. 

 

Article 14. Removing from Membership

A member that does not comply with this Statute or any rules and regulations made in accordance with this Statute, or does not pay its dues for two years, loses its membership. 

 

 

SECTION THREE - BODIES OF THE ALLIANCE

 

Article 15. General

The bodies of the Alliance consist of the General Assembly and the Executive Board.

 

Article 16. Representation

Member agencies are represented by their senior managers at the General Assembly or Executive Board meetings of the Alliance. In case the agency managers are unable to attend the meetings, the persons to be determined by the manager are appointed for this purpose.

 

Article 17. General Assembly

The highest and most authoritative decision-making body of the Alliance is the General Assembly, consisting of all members. Its decision is binding on all members.

General Assembly meetings may be ordinary or extraordinary.

The General Assembly convenes under direction of the President. In the absence of the President, the General Assembly meeting is chaired by one of the Vice-Presidents.

The agencies are represented at the General Assembly meetings by up to two people, including their top managers or representatives.

 

Article 18. Duties and Powers of the General Assembly

• Electing the President, Vice-Presidents, General Secretary and members of the Executive Board who will serve.
• Deciding on the admission of members, suspension of membership and removal from membership.
• Empowering the Executive Board and the President for implementation in accordance with the purpose of the Alliance.
• Determining its own procedures and principles, unless otherwise stated.
• Determining the subsidiary formations / subsidiary commissions deemed necessary for the functioning of the Alliance.
• Examining and approving the reports of the Executive Board, and answering the questions posed to it.
• Deciding on the amount of membership fees.
• Determining the financial order of the Alliance, examining its expenses, and approving its accounts.
• Amending the Statute.
• Resolving any disputes that may arise in interpretation and implementation of the Statute.
• Deciding on the dissolution of the Alliance.
• Taking decisions on other issues in accordance with the purposes and activities of the Alliance, and empowering the Executive Board on these issues.
• Empowering the Executive Board on the purchase of office fixtures and other movable-immovable property necessary for the functioning of the Alliance, or the sale or lease of existing office fixtures and other movable-immovable property, as well as employment or dismissal of service personnel.

 

Article 19. Ordinary Meeting Procedure

The General Assembly is held every two years on the basis of rotation of the initials of the States’ capitals; (Ankara, Astana, Baku, Bishkek and Tashkent).

If the relevant agency does not want to host, hosting the meeting will be submitted to the next agency on a voluntary basis and it will be clarified at the General Assembly whether that State will host the meeting. If necessary, the State of the meeting will be decided with the proposal and nomination of an agency from the General Assembly meetings a year ago.

The meeting is started with the participation of more than half of the members. If this rate cannot be achieved, the members will be called back to the meeting after 15 days. In this case, the meeting starts even if the rate cannot be achieved again.

The issues discussed at the General Assembly meeting are recorded in the minutes. The minutes are sent to the members by a method deemed appropriate after they are signed by the President and the General Secretary when the meeting is over.

 

Article 20. Convocation 

A written notification including the agenda is sent to the members no later than 30 days before the day of the General Assembly meeting. 

 

Article 21. Voting and Decision-Making Procedures          

Votes are cast by the method of raising hands. In matters that require a secret voting, votes are cast in such a way that does not violate the privacy policy. 

In cases of force majeure beyond a member's control and discretion (epidemic, natural disaster, war, terrorism, natural events, fire, explosion, extreme weather conditions, coup, and restricted cases), the General Assembly and the Executive Board may convene online. Decisions may be made except in the cases specified in the Article 21, and these decisions are recorded in the minutes.

When the force majeure disappears, the meetings continue to be held physically as usual.

Decisions are made by absolute majority at the ordinary General Assembly meeting.  If the decisions are equal, the decision is made in the direction given by the President.

At an ordinary General Assembly meeting, decisions are made unanimously on issues such as;

• Amendment of the Statute of the Alliance and
• Dissolution of the Alliance. 

 

Article 22. Extraordinary Meeting Procedure

The General Assembly may hold an extraordinary meeting no later than 30 days from the date of notification if the proposal of the President or at least three members is notified to the Executive Board in writing with the reasons, or if the Executive Board deems it necessary. 

An extraordinary General Assembly meeting is held with the participation of the absolute majority of the members.

Decisions are made by absolute majority at an extraordinary General Assembly meeting.

Article 23. Executive Board

The Executive Board is responsible for carrying out the administrative activities of the Alliance.

The Executive Board consists of one President (President-in-office), two Vice-Presidents (former and next Presidents) and one General Secretary.

It routinely holds a meeting at least once a year. It can also hold meetings more than once if it is deemed necessary or needed.

 

Article 24. Duties

Implementing the decisions made by the General Assembly.

Preparing the agenda, preparing the necessary information, and notifying the participating agencies about this.

The Executive Board is obliged to transmit the agenda to the member agencies at least 10 days in advance.

The Executive Board may hold an extraordinary meeting if necessary and in case of emergency.

 

Article 25. President

He/She is the official representative of the Alliance, and serves as the president of the General Assembly and the Alliance.

He/She is responsible for the proper conduct of the meetings of the Executive Board and all sessions of the General Assembly.

His/her term of office is two years, and he/she is elected by the General Assembly on a two-year rotation basis.

 

Article 26. Expiration of the Duty of the Executive Board

If a member agency of the Executive Board decides to resign before the expiration of the term of office, a new member is designated within the framework of the rotation principle.

If the resigned member is the President of the Executive Board, the Vice-President, who will serve as the President of the next term, assumes the post of President, and the vacated post of Vice-President is assumed by the agency that is in the turn of rotation. The General Assembly convenes within three months, hosted by the agency that holds the Presidency, and approves the new Executive Board.

Article 27. Vice-Presidents

The Vice-Presidents consists of the President of the previous term, and the President of the next term, who will be appointed according to the Article 25.

In the absence of the President, the Vice-Presidents assume the duties of the President.

They are obliged to perform the tasks to be determined by the President.

 

Article 28. General Secretary

Applications for the post of General Secretary begin at least 30 days before the meeting, and applications are voted on at the General Assembly.

The General Secretary is elected by the General Assembly by 3 votes (by absolute majority) for a three-year term.

The General Secretary, elected once, may be re-elected.

The centre of the General Secretariat is the city where the General Secretary is a resident.

 

Article 29. Duties of the General Secretary

• Ensuring the continuity of the management between the two General Assembly meetings.
• Ensuring the coordination between the members of the Alliance.
• Participating in General Assembly meetings and Alliance activities.
• Preparing the General Assembly meetings in coordination with the President and the Vice-Presidents.
• Preparing all kinds of information and documents related to the meetings of the Executive Board and the General Assembly.
• Preparing the necessary documents for the implementation of the decisions made at the ordinary and extraordinary General Assembly meetings.
• Submitting the report on the activities and accounts of the General Assembly to the General Assembly.
• Building relationships with other similar organizations.
• Using initiative within the limits set by the Board in order to fulfil its duties.
• Supervising the implementation of the budget and submitting the annual budget to the General Assembly.
• Carrying out correspondence of all kinds of activities and actions related to the Alliance.
• If the post of General Secretary is not renewed at the end of three years, it will expire spontaneously.

                        

 

 

SECTION FOUR - ACTIVITIES OF THE ALLIANCE

 

Article 30. General

The member agencies can organize various national and international events, trainings, competitions, and visits by taking advantage of each other’s knowledge and experience.

 

Article 31. International Activity

The member agencies of the Alliance work together to increase their visibility and recognition in the international arena, participate in activities that will be organized in this sense, and make the contribution desired from them.

 

Article 32. Trainings

The member agencies of the Alliance can request other member agencies to organize training programs on various topics in the areas they need. The agencies meet these requests addressed to them to the extent permitted by the conditions.

 

Article 33. Publications

The Alliance produces written and visual content related to the issues within its field of activity, and the member agencies contribute to the production and sharing of this content.

 

Article 34. Competitions

Competitions can be organized by the Alliance to contribute to the activities and promotion of the Alliance, and various awards can be given to those who succeed in these competitions. Member agencies provide the contribution desired from them in the process of organizing these competitions.

 

 

SECTION FIVE - FINANCIAL CLAUSES

 

Article 35. Revenues of the Alliance

It consists of the membership fees to be paid by the member agencies. The Alliance may accept donations or sponsorships. 

 

The General Assembly may establish special funds to finance joint activities such as information exchange, communication, and training.

 

Article 36. Expenses and Audit

Expenses of the Alliance and expenses for ensuring the participation of the General Secretary to the General Assembly (travel expenses, catering, accommodation) are covered by dues provided that they are documented. The audit of expenses and the budget is carried out by the General Assembly.

 

SECTION SIX - OTHER CLAUSES

 

Article 37. Ethical Rules

The member agencies of the Alliance adopt the principles of privacy of private life, universal human rights, the sanctity of human life, and the public interest in all kinds of activities and publications, and ensure the full, fair, accurate, and real flow of information.

The agencies publish on the principle of equality and justice, without harming human dignity and without inciting discrimination.

They avoid publishing publications that will be considered offensive and discriminatory on the basis of class, race, religion, gender and other reasons, and that will arouse hostility in the society.

 

Article 38. Amendment on the Statute

Each member agency has the right to request amendments to the Statute. At the request of the agency, the relevant request for a Statute amendment is placed on the agenda of the next General Assembly, and is discussed and decided upon.

 

Article 39. Dissolution

Dissolution of the Alliance takes place by the decision of 3/4 of the members of the General Assembly. If this decision is taken at the General Assembly, the existing balance in the bank accounts of the Alliance shall be divided equally among the members after deducting the dissolution process costs. 

 

Article 40. Language

English has been accepted as the official language in this Statute for the Alliance’s activities and correspondences.

 

Article 41. Disputes

If a dispute arises from interpretation of this Statute or from other issues related to this Statute, the General Assembly establishes a committee of three people appointed among its members. This committee pronounces its decision within two months and this decision is final.

 

Article 42. Entering into Force

This Statute of 42 articles enters into force on the date of its adoption.