JOINT STATEMENT - of Cyprus Newspaper & Magazines Publishers Association, ENPA and WAN-IFRA regarding the assassination of Andy Hadjicostis, Managing Director of Dias Media Group in Cyprus

Sunday, January 10, 2010

The Cyprus Newspaper & Magazines Publishers Association, ENPA – the European Newspaper Publishers’ Association - and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) strongly condemn the assassination of Andy Hadjicostis, Managing Director of Dias Media Group in Cyprus. The killing of Mr Hadjicostis by yet unidentified gunmen took place on the evening of January 11 in Nicosia. The Cyprus Newspaper & Magazines Publishers Association, ENPA and WAN-IFRA urge the Cypriot authorities to use all the necessary means to find and bring to justice the person or persons who committed the assassination. The undersigned associations consider the assassination as a blow against freedom of speech and against the media in Cyprus. “Our associations are determined to protect and fight for this fundamental right”, said Mr Petros Zachariades, Chairman of the Cyprus Newspapers & Magazines Publishers Association. “In addition, all parties must work towards strengthening the bonds between the media the public and the authorities in order to avoid these types of horrendous incidents.”

Andy Hadjicostis was born in Nicosia on 12 September, 1968. He studied Economics and Political Science in Southampton University in the United Kingdom. He was the son of the founder and Chairman of Dias Media Group which comprise of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations. He was appointed Marketing and New Business Manager of the Group in 1997 and eventually Managing Director in 2002.

January 12, 2010 Cyprus Newspapers & Magazines Publishers Association Petros Zachariades, Chairman ENPA – European Newspaper Publishers’ Association Valdo Lehari jr, President World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) Gavin O’Reilly, President

ENPA – European Newspaper Publishers’ Association is a non-profit organisation of

5200 titles from 25 European countries representing the interests of newspaper publishers to the European Institutions. More than 150 million copies of newspapers are sold or distributed each day and read by over 300 million people in Europe. Newspapers online have a tens of millions of unique visits on their sites on daily basis. www.enpa.be

The Cyprus Newspapers and Magazines Publishers’ Association” was established in 1982 by twenty two publishers who subscribed its constitution. Membership of the association is currently fifteen. The Association is member of ENPA.

WAN-IFRA is the global organization for the world’s newspapers and news publishers, with formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe. The organisation groups 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries.

http://www.wan-ifra.org/

The European Magazine Media Association, is the unique and complete representation of Europe’s magazine media, which is today enjoyed by millions of consumers on various platforms, encompassing both paper and digital formats.

www.magazinemedia.eu

The European Newspaper Publishers’ Association (ENPA) is the largest representative body of newspaper publishers across Europe. ENPA advocates for 14 national associations across 14 European countries, and is a principal interlocutor to the EU institutions and a key driver of media policy debates in the European Union.