Dialogue on Radio May - Cyprus

First broadcast on March 14 2004, "Dialogue" is on air every Wednesday on Radio May (96.0 - 99.5) between 16.00 and 17.30 hours. This bilingual programme is centred around giving audiences the opportunity to learn more about the "other side" and, hopefully, to understand each other. The programme is broadcast to the whole of Northern Cyprus, as well as some parts of Southern Cyprus. It includes 30 modules and is conducted in 2 languages (Turkish and Greek) with an on-the-spot interpreter, Yucel Koseoglu. The Turkish Cypriot journalist Hasan Kahvecioglu co-presents the programme with the Greek Cypriot journalists Makarios Drosotis and Katerina Iliadis.

"Dialogue" seeks to inform Turkish Cypriot listeners about the social, cultural, and political life in the South, while informing Greek Cypriots about life in the North. Specifically, it summarises and evaluates the previous week's political developments in the South and the North, in part by drawing on the mass media (newspapers' political positions, main articles in past week's media, etc). "Dialogue" presents cultural events in both the South and the North during the past week and the coming week. It analyses political parties, daily life, and economic realities.

One specific area of focus in terms of the show's content is the Annan Plan (please see "Key Points", below), clarifying issues by giving more accurate and detailed information on the effects of the plan and aftermath if a solution is to be reached. One focus is on exploring the meaning of a solution for both Turks and for Greeks. The show also worked to help the public make a decision prior to the April 24 2004 referenda.

In addition to the radio medium, this project draws on the Internet to faciliate connections and draw divergent groups together. Its website is under construction as of this writing, but will eventually enable listeners to follow news, articles, and details of Radio May programmes (including "Dialogue"). Furthermore, Radio May is also in the process of making it possible for people to listen to "Dialogue" over the Internet. This medium would, organisers hope, enable Turkish Cypriots living in The UK, Australia, Canada and other countries to listen and participate.

Conflict, Political Development.

According to organisers, the submission of The Annan Plan presented an opportunity for Cyrpus's Turkish and Greek communities to live together in harmony. "We felt it was our duty as journalists and public figures to explain the complex plan to the public and make them understand the benefits of a solution. The civil society in North Cyprus worked together in cooperation to support the plan in the referendum which took place on 23rd of April 2004. During this process we; as a civil society group (some journalists, businessmen, activists) came together and decide to create a new media power and struggle for solution and EU membership. With limited resources and time, Radio May was established rapidly and started transmitting pro peace programmes, mainly giving the stand to experts on politics, international relations, EU policies and economy. By broadcasting dynamic, objective, and clear news bulletins every hour - which are carefully monitored against state disinformation - Radio May has gained the credibility and trust of its audience. 1st May, was historical deadline for Turkish Cypriots... Before 1st of May, it was very important to solve the Cyprus problem and to enter EU together with Greek Cypriots. This is why we named the radio station 'May'. With this name we focused on the deadline date and we stressed the importance very limited time."

Operating in the capital city of Nicosia (Cyprus), Radio May aims to:

• work to solve the Cyprus problem
• create mutual understanding and reconciliation between Cyprus's two different cultures/communities
• improve standards of democracy in North Cyprus
• work for full membership of "United Cyprus" to the EU (European Union)
• prepare the community for a solution and help disseminate results of the solution after it has been reached.

Radio May is actively seeking a partner radio station in the Greek Cypriot South to repeat their programmes in order to reach a wider Greek Cypriot audience.

Radio May has not yet conducted a survey to monitor the impact of the programme, but has some idea from the feedback received, such as positive reaction on the part of audiences (through, for example, telephone calls) and mass-media articles.