Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-04-27

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] CNA - 30th ANNIVERSARY

[01] CNA - 30th ANNIVERSARY

Christou said that very soon CNA will take a new shape as the Cabinet has recently approved the new restructuring plan which will allow the Agency to operate on a new basis, with additional staff and an extension of its working hours.

During the gathering, honourary awards were presented to the former Presidents, Directors and Acting Directors of CNA by President Papadopoulos and the Minister of the Interior. A photographic exhibition about CNA was also on display at the venue of the reception.

Christou said through good planning and systematic work CNA managed to win the trust of its many subscribers and became a point of reference, providing a reliable and timely source of information on various issues relating to Cyprus.

Noting that news is filed in Greek, English and Turkish, he said ``the introduction of a Turkish news service has given the possibility to Turkish Cypriots and Turkish politicians and media in Turkey and the occupied areas to be informed about developments on the island`` and that ``CNA news items are often published in Turkish Cypriot and Turkish media, and the Agency is given credit for that.``

``The state has been very supportive of the Agency in recognition of its contribution to the local media scene and has helped every effort by CNA to meet increasing challenges in a fast changing media world. The annual state grant to the Agency is essentially an indirect grant to the local media, which pay very little, one could argue a symbolic, contribution to the Agency for services they subscribe to, mainly news and photos,`` the Minister said.

He paid tribute to all the parliamentary parties for their firm support in approving unanimously the CNA annual budget, in recognition of the work the Agency does, and congratulated all boards of directors, past and present, for their contribution to the effort to expand and improve services at CNA.

Christou said that ``tonight we honour those who have begun this task and continue working hard at it is an expression of appreciation for their contribution to the Agency and Cyprus at large.``

Furthermore he congratulated all those who work at the Agency, ``who under difficult and at times pressing conditions successfully accomplish their mission.``

In his key note speech, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus News Agency Dr Aristos Aristotelous made an overall review of the history of CNA, its mission, services and international activities, as well as its progress and development and contribution to the media community in Cyprus so far and referred to those who have contributed to its progress over the years, outlining current efforts to reorganise the Agency, upgrade and expand its services.

He said CNA has managed within a few years to become a reliable source of information for the local media, government and state departments, foreign diplomatic missions on the island, the Republic`s embassies abroad, foreign news agencies, organisations of overseas Cypriots and Greek speaking media around the globe, and photographic material and news bulletins filed by CNA are widely used.

``Today we can talk about a small but dynamic news agency, which compares very favourably with other national news agencies, in terms of services offered and technology applied. CNA plays its own decisive role in the media world in Cyprus,`` he added.

He noted that ``surveys we have conducted and the feedback we get lead us to the conclusion that the work carried out by the Agency is considered reliable, objective, credible and serious.``

``This renders the responsibility of the Board of Directors, current and future ones, and the management of the organisation even more arduous in that they have to not only maintain but strengthen the tradition and the role of the Agency as an independent, accurate and respectable source of information in Cyprus and abroad. Reliable, timely and credible information serves the truth, democracy and the interests of the Cypriot state and its people at large,`` he added.

He expressed confidence that ``the high level of the Agency`s responsibility and the seriousness which it has displayed throughout the 30 years of its existence and of course your support, will strengthen further our determination to meet the challenges successfully, it will inspire us in our efforts to continually improve our product, through proper planning and in serving the objectives and the mission we have been entrusted with.``

Furthermore, he noted that in the new and difficult and demanding environment, ``we have set ourselves a very important task, to put into force a restructuring plan which will allow us to upgrade and improve even further our services in terms of quality and quantity,`` adding that ``we believe this will enhance our news items relating to European Union matters, the economy and other sectors, it will extend working hours something that will provide our subscribers with a continuous flow of information on Cyprus and the international scene.``

He said the Cabinet, following a lot of effort by the Board of Directors and with the help of the Ministry of the Interior, has approved the restructuring plan and the terms of employment for the new posts.

Dr Aristotelous expressed his most sincere thanks to the President of the Republic, the Cabinet, the Ministry of the Interior and the House of Representatives, as well as to all political parties for their unwavering and continuous support and assistance to the Agency to accomplish its mission and objectives. ``We also thank them for the trust they show in us,`` he added.

Furthermore, he expressed his appreciation to all the chairmen and the members of previous Boards of Directors who have served over the years, as well as to the current members of the Board for their services and their selfless and tireless efforts and their dedication to serving the objectives of the Agency.

Referring to the operation of the agency, he said that as time went on, the Agency expanded its services and activities at home and abroad, to meet the challenges of the times and the need for a continuous flow of information on European Union matters, following Cyprus` accession to the EU and Turkey`s bid to join the Union. CNA staff in Nicosia at headquarters, working in close cooperation with a network of correspondents and associates abroad, covers events relating to Cyprus and developments overseas which affect or are of particular interest to the country.

He noted that three years ago CNA introduced coverage of events in the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic through its own correspondent, an important decision by the Agency. At the same time, Turkish Cypriot journalists were taken on board to boost the Turkish section.

Dr Aristotelous underlined that CNA has developed an active role abroad through participation in various regional and international media organisations, seminars, and workshops. The Agency participates in the World Congress of News Agency, the European Alliance of News Agencies, the Mediterranean Alliance of News Agencies, the Commonwealth Alliance of News Agencies and the Commonwealth Press Union.

He said CNA has commercial and cooperation agreements with national and international news agencies, exchanging news or services and expanding its scope of information at home and abroad. Athens News Agency, ITAR-TASS (Russia), AFP (France), ANSA (Italy), KYODO (Italy), IRNA (Iran), XINHUA (China), SANA (Syria), APS (Algiers) and ATA (Albania) are but a few agencies with which CNA has clinched such agreements.

Furthermore, he expressed warm thanks to the Athens News Agency, its management and its representatives in Cyprus ``for the close cooperation we have had and continue to have`` and special thanks and appreciation to Andreas Christodoulides, former Director General of ANA, ``whose contribution to this cooperation has been invaluable and whom CNA had the opportunity to honour for his help and support.``

He also expressed appreciation for the work all Directors of CNA have carried out during their terms in office and extended thanks to the staff of the Agency ``for the zeal they display in exercising correctly their duties and in the high sense of responsibility and dedication they show in accomplishing their mission.``

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