AVRUPA NEWS AGENCY (AVA) – LONDON Avrupa Newspaper, which has served the Turkish community in the United Kingdom since 2002, marked its 25th year of publication with an international event at the House of Lords on 3 November 2026. Avrupa Newspaper Marks 25th Year with Media Workshop and Journalism Awards at the House of Lords.
Hosted by Lord Qurban Hussain, the event brought together representatives from politics, diplomacy, the media, academia, business and civil society. The programme included a media workshop, a historical exhibition, an awards ceremony, cultural presentations and documentary screenings.
Among those attending were Lord Qurban Hussain, Afzal Khan MP, former Shadow Minister for Exports, Nesil Çalışkan MP, Deborah Bonetti of the Foreign Press Association, representatives of Musiad UK, diplomatic officials and media professionals from several European countries.
The event was organised by Vatan Öz, founder and editor of Avrupa Newspaper and President of Avrupa Media Group.
WORKSHOP EXAMINES THE FUTURE OF DIASPORA MEDIA
The UK Turkish Media Workshop, moderated by Vatan Öz, explored the future of Turkish-language journalism in Europe, with discussions focusing on digital transformation, artificial intelligence, new forms of journalism, the sustainability of diaspora media and international media cooperation.
Contributors included Deborah Bonetti, Director of the Foreign Press Association; Alipaşa Akbaş, founder of Kanal Avrupa TV in Germany; Arda Sayıner, journalist with Hürriyet; Sevgin Alişoğlu, producer and director at Kanal D and Adil Elmas, editor and television presenter with Avusturya Günlüğü.
Bonetti highlighted the role of diaspora media in preserving cultural connections and giving communities a voice. She also stressed the importance of adapting to digital change and engaging younger generations.
HISTORICAL EXHIBITION EXPLORES TURKISH-BRITISH RELATIONS
A central feature of the programme was the exhibition entitled “Pages Opening to Friendship – Turkish-British Relations from Documents to Life”.
The exhibition presented material selected from the private archive collection of Professor Osman Kubilay Gül and curated by Dr Özgenur Reyhan Güler. Diplomatic documents, historical newspaper headlines and press cuttings from Turkish and British archives illustrated the development of relations between the two countries through diplomacy, journalism and shared historical memory. The exhibition was sponsored by the Global Journalists Council (GJC).
JOURNALISM AND COMMUNITY AWARDS
The awards ceremony recognised individuals in six categories.
The Friendship and Peace Award went to Nesil Çalışkan MP; the Health Tourism Award to Dr Burak Tuncer of Esteworld; the Journalism Award to Hürriyet writer Arda Sayıner; the Television Programme Award to Adil Elmas of Avusturya Günlüğü; the Migrant Achievement Award to Soner Adem of Doctors4U; and the European Diaspora Achievement Award to Alipaşa Akbaş, founder of Kanal Avrupa TV.
Avrupa Gazetesi celebrated its 25th anniversary at the House of Lords with a media workshop, a historic exhibition, an awards ceremony and international participation. Lord Hussain, the event host presented the Achievement Award to Dr.Burak Tuncer, CEO of Esteworld.
Avrupa Gazetesi celebrated its 25th anniversary at the House of Lords with a media workshop, a historic exhibition, an awards ceremony and international participation. Lord Hussain, the event host presented the Achievement Award to Aygül Peker, UK Director of Esteworld.
DOCUMENTARIES HIGHLIGHT THE TURKISH CYPRIOT EXPERIENCE
The programme also featured three documentaries by filmmakers Mert Ahmet and Eren Ramadan, exploring different aspects of the history and experiences of the Turkish Cypriot community.
The films were “Offside: The Untold Story of Sports in the TRNC”, “DISPLACED: A Turkish Cypriot Story” and “UNSEEN: The Athletes of Northern Cyprus”. Their subjects included the community’s historical struggles, challenges and experiences in sport.
CULTURAL HERITAGE AND THE TURKIC WORLD
Çiğdem Karaca, Chair of the Fethiye Likya Women’s Cooperative in Türkiye, introduced the traditional dastar textile of Fethiye, highlighting the importance of preserving local craftsmanship and supporting women’s cooperative production.
Participants from Turkish, Tatar, Azerbaijani, Uzbek, Turkmen and Kazakh communities also attended in traditional national dress, reflecting the cultural diversity of the wider Turkic world.
MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATIONS
Abdulhadi Turus, President of Türkiye’s Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), sent a message congratulating Avrupa Newspaper on its 25th year of publication.
Mehmet Ali Dim, President of the Global Journalists Council, and Burhan Canbaz, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Foreign Press Association, also sent messages recognising the newspaper’s contribution to Turkish-language journalism and to the Turkish community in the United Kingdom.
In his address, Vatan Öz reflected on the newspaper’s journey from its beginnings in East London in 2002 to its development into an international media group. He described the publication as a bridge connecting Turkish and British communities.
“Taking the journey we began at a small desk in London 25 years ago to the House of Lords today is a real achievement. Newspapers do more than report the news; they preserve memories, connect generations and leave a mark for the future,” Öz said.
Lord Qurban Hussain
Lord Hussain highlighted Avrupa Newspaper’s 25th year of publication, Vatan Öz’s 30-year journalistic career in the UK, the contribution of migrant communities, British multiculturalism, social cohesion and the importance of a free press. He said the event had made a significant contribution to raising the profile of the Turkish community in the UK and strengthening Turkish-British friendship.
Deborah Bonetti – Director of the Foreign Press Association
Deborah Bonetti, Director of the Foreign Press Association and London correspondent for the Italian newspaper Il Giorno, emphasised the importance of the sustainability of diaspora media, adapting to digital transformation and reaching future generations. The Italian journalist also highlighted the role of diaspora media in preserving cultural ties and giving communities a voice.
Afzal Khan MP – Member of Parliament for Manchester
Afzal Khan, former UK Trade Envoy to Türkiye and MP for Manchester, played an important role in the ceremony and contributed to the opening. In his speech, he drew attention to the challenges facing diaspora media and the considerable responsibility involved in keeping a newspaper alive for 25 years while helping to shape its community.
Khan praised Avrupa Newspaper’s achievement over a quarter of a century and underlined the essential role of the media in raising awareness, empowering communities and ensuring their voices are heard. Highlighting the importance of a free, independent and effective media in building strong communities, he congratulated Avrupa Newspaper on its 25 years of publication.
Sir Iqbal Sacranie OBE
Among the distinguished guests attending the celebration was Sir Iqbal Sacranie OBE, one of the prominent community figures within the British Muslim community. Honoured with a knighthood by the British Crown in 2005, Sir Iqbal served as the founding Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, established in 1997.
Vatan Öz: “Our journey, which began at a small desk 25 years ago, has reached the House of Lords”
Following the welcoming speeches, the programme moved on to a workshop examining the future of Turkish media in Europe.
Vatan Öz, founder of Avrupa Newspaper and President of Avrupa Media Group, delivered the opening address, reflecting on the newspaper’s 25-year publishing journey. He explained that Avrupa Newspaper began in 2002 in East London, with an initial print run of 30,000 copies, and has since developed into an international media group.
Öz emphasised that the newspaper is more than a news publication; it serves as a bridge of friendship, trust and communication between the Turkish and British communities.
Highlighting journalism’s responsibility to preserve collective memory and pass it on to future generations, Öz spoke about the significance of the historical exhibition, the documentaries focusing on Turkish Cypriots and the media workshop. He thanked his colleagues, diplomatic representatives, friends and, in particular, his wife for their support throughout the 25-year journey.
Reflecting on the newspaper’s achievement, Vatan Öz said:
“Taking the journey we began at a small desk in London 25 years ago to the House of Lords today is a real achievement for us. Newspapers do more than report the news; they preserve memories, connect generations and leave a lasting mark on the future.”
He concluded by reaffirming that Avrupa Newspaper would continue its mission of building bridges between communities.
The historic celebration concluded with a group photograph in Westminster
Supported by YTB, Esteworld, Greymore, Doctors4U, Altan & Co and Matbaa, Avrupa Newspaper’s 25th Year Celebration Programme came to a close with a group photograph in the Grand Hall of the UK Parliament in Westminster, followed by an opportunity for guests to network, exchange views and explore future opportunities for cooperation.
The historic celebration concluded with a group photograph in Westminster
Hosted by the House of Lords of the UK Parliament and supported by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), under Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the “UK Turkish Media Workshop, 25th Year Celebration, Historical Exhibition and Awards Ceremony” highlighted the role of the Turkish community in Europe in media, culture and international representation.
The event concluded with a group photograph in Westminster and an opportunity for guests to exchange views and establish further professional connections.
