The protection of the freedom of the press is not just an institutional obligation, it is a political position, a European principle and a democratic duty, government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Sunday.
In a written statement on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, he said that "the Government reaffirms its absolute respect for the institutional role of journalists, the independence of the media and the right of citizens to be informed freely, in a pluralistic manner and reliably."
Democracy, he added, "needs scrutiny, criticism, investigation, disclosure, it needs journalists who can work without fear, without pressure, without threats and without institutional obstacles."
The Republic of Cyprus, the government spokesperson continued, "as a European state governed by the rule of law, protects and contributes to the maintenance and strengthening of the environment in which journalism can carry out its mission."
"This means transparency, access to information, respect for criticism, protection of press officers and continuous strengthening of institutional guarantees that serve freedom of expression," he noted.
'Democratic duty'
The government, Letymbiotis said, approaches criticism "as an integral part of democratic functioning", adding that "disagreement, when done with evidence and responsibility, strengthens public debate. And a strong public debate means more informed citizens, a more mature democracy".
Freedom of the press, however, he stressed, "is also accompanied by a common responsibility: to protect the truth from distortion, information from manipulation, public discourse from toxicity and society from misinformation. The answer to these challenges is more light, more transparency, more accountability, more institutional maturity."
"Today we honour all those who serve the information with professionalism, consistency and a sense of responsibility. We honour journalism that checks power, gives voice to citizens, highlights injustices, illuminates invisible aspects of public life and contributes to the quality of our Democracy," the spokesperson said.
Concluding, he noted that "freedom of the press is a key foundation of democracy. And for the Republic of Cyprus, its protection is not just an institutional obligation, it is a political position, a European principle and a democratic duty."
CNA