- (Silence)

- A global village is the term used to describe the explosion in the mass media and communication over the past few years,

- and in Cyprus, on this small Eastern Mediterranean Island, it is more than usually apparent.

- Islanders may once have felt isolated but not anymore.

- Once, Cyprus was the crossroads to many worlds, at the time of when early travel by sea linked the nations,

- today many years later, Cyprus is still a crossroads, even its communication reaches extraordinary levels.

- Today, there's a feeling in Cyprus in actual participation in world events,

- but not because of air travel and the opportunity it introduced to easily meet the other worlds, the main reason is the media.

- In today Cyprus, the world most eminent news paper and magazine arrive daily by air,

- whilst audiovisuals from the four corners of the earth are received by satellites in many homes.

- Meanwhile, as we will soon see, pictures, sounds and messages also link Cyprus...

- The island has recently become an operation centre, the journalists from the biggest international news papers and TV and radio networks.

- In 1974, Cyprus encountered almost total catastrophe, when nearly 40% of its territory was invaded and occupied by Turkey.

- Despite this, the island managed not only to sustain itself but to attain a relatively high standard of living.

- It can offer to its inhabitants and guest all the comforts enjoyed in any developed country.

- Over 92% of households have colour television, in Britain it figures 90%.

- 71% of households have a VCR, this is the higher percentage in the world.

- Every second person owns a car, almost all households have a telephone, and 92% of all citizens over 15 listen daily to radio. 96% watch TV.

- For Cyprus to be able to participate in the media game, it ought to have the necessary technology and infrastructures.

- Cyprus has, thanks to CYTA, the CYprus Telecomunication Authority.

- CYTA has satellite stations to receiving and transmitting pictures and sounds,

- and also has facilities for television and radio stations and the news agencies to transmit and receive programs through Intelsat and Eutelsat satellites.

- Also for a number of years now CYTA's been able to transmit data, since it's linked with PSTN, Public Switched Telephone Network.

- Cellular telephones, paging systems and telefax, are services the value of which all journalists are so well aware of.

- The services are offered by CYTA to media people and apparently they make full use of what's available.

- For this and other reasons, Cyprus has in recent years become a centre on faith for a large number of foreign use correspondents.

- In Cyprus it's not uncommon to meet people saying they work for Reuters, AP, AFP, TASS,

- and news agencies, BBC, CNN, or other international and local media organisations.

- Because of its proximity to the Middle East and Gulf, because it has the technology, and because it's also a safe distance from the hotspots,

- Cyprus has become an international news centre.

- Nous sommes venus à Chypre pour différentes raisons.

- Tout d'abord il n'y a pas de censure, d'autre part les télécommunications sont excellentes et nous pouvons importer assez librement des nouvelles technologies,

- ce qui est essentiel pour un travail d'agence de presse.

- Puisque nous avons beaucoup d'expatriés et spécialement en provenance du proche orient, il est important de pouvoir obtenir des visas et des permis de résidence.

- C'est un pays sûr, où la vie de famille est tranquille et où les enfants trouvent des écoles.

- En outre le climat est agréable, les chypriotes sont accueillants.

- Ce sont les raisons principales qui nous ont permis de venir à Chypre et qui font que notre choix a été confirmé.

- (Silence)

- But Cyprus itself equal status in the international news media family, with a legislation guarantying the freedom of the press and of the information,

- it offers moral support to the development of the mass media.

- The press has retained its youth and modernise itself.

- The press and newspapers in Cyprus went into circulation in 1878. Since then, hundreds of newspapers and magazines have often though closed.

- Today though, publications are produced in the latest way, printing plant in Cyprus are modern and they're able to print glossy full colour publications.

- Many foreign mainly offshore companies produce their quality publications in Cyprus.

- In 1989 the house of representatives approved a new law concerning the media, under which journalists are guaranteed anonymity of their sources

- and which offers journalists, Cypriot or otherwise, the right to request, receive and publish information from states and other sources within the combines of the constitution.

- Those who have any experience in non democratic countries fully appreciate how important this is.

- (Silence)

- Newspaper's premises are comfortable and working conditions for journalists are satisfactory.

- Professional journalists are members of the Cyprus Union of Editors, which in turn is a member of the International Journalist Organisation.

- (Silence)

- And writing and typewriters in Cyprus were replaced by computers quite a while ago, there are however those who have not abandoned more traditional ways of writing.

- (Silence)

- The only black mark is the inability of Cypriot journalists to practice their profession throughout their all be it small island.

- Turkish occupation forces forbid travellers and Cypriot into the occupied areas, whilst foreign correspondents are admitted but only under strict military control.

- (Silence)

- In Cyprus, both the press and electronic journalism have witnessed a boom over the past few years.

- In particular recently, since legislation has been introduced committing commercial radios and television stations, the audiovisual field is in full bloom.

- At this time in Cyprus, the official state radio and television medium is the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, which is a member of the EBU, the European Broadcasting Union, and other organizations.

- CYBC runs one television and three radio channels. It also relays a program on a channel, received by satellite from Greek television's channel one.

- In return it sends a three hours TV program to Greece, which is relayed on a national network.

- In 1991 CYBC will start a second TV channel. About one third of television production takes place in Cyprus.

- Local television and radio productions are in Greek, although there are daily news and programs on radio and television in Turkish and English.

- Also this year a new commercial television station will open.

- The main chair holder which is the Orthodox Church in Cyprus, meanwhile there are tens of private national and local radio stations.

- CYBC television was inaugurated in 1956 and is linked to Eurovision satellites.

- In Cyprus there are also modern private production houses making documentaries, television series and commercials.

- These also offer services to foreign television networks.

- Radio is a medium that received an astonishing and rapid development over the last few years.

- Because of the relatively low running cost of the private radio station, many individuals have taken advantage of legislation committing private commercials stations.

- They're equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and their studios and offices are modern and comfortable.

- (Silence)

- Cyprus today, possibly because of its journalistic position, is a miniature of the media world.

- (Silence)

- Television, newspapers, magazines, satellites reception and soon cable television, computer networks, reception and transmission of data basis

- and whatever else constitutes the world of communications of the door of new century, can be found on the edge of the Mediterranean, in Cyprus.

- (Silence)

- This tiny island, which despite the earth shaking changes to democracy in the world remains possibly divided, is nevertheless in a position to offer and contribute its own share to international communications.

- The world of the media, which exerts such influence on society, could lend to help in hand to Cyprus, to bring real freedom, and in hand to the island's occupation, a moment closer,

- with no constraints on communication between the communities and citizens on the island, regardless of their race or religion.

- (Silence)