SYDNEY, Feb. 3--AAP-AsiaNet/InfoQuest Australian Prime Minister John Howard said he “genuinely respected” the role that Australian Associated Press had played in maintaining democracy in this country when he opened the national news agency’s new headquarters in the western suburb of Rhodes today. Mr Howard referred to a robust Parliamentary system, an incorruptible judiciary and a free and skeptical press as the three cornerstones of a democratic society. In all its 70 years as a comprehensive provider of news he said AAP has kept abreast of media developments and maintained a high quality of service to the industry. Chairman Mr Michael Gill, introducing the Prime Minister, said AAP is “one of a handful of the world’s national news agencies that is not funded or managed under government influence.” He said AAP today moves 200 million words a year to the full range of print, broadcast and digital media. A total of 4500 stories, photos, video and data files are delivered to customers each day. CEO Mr Clive Marshall said the two-year project from a hole in the ground to the finishing touches a few days ago takes into account the environment essential to cater for the ever-changing needs of the media. Editor-in-Chief, Mr Tony Gillies, in a press statement, said the principles upon which AAP was founded in 1935 — impartiality, independence, accuracy, reliability and speed — remain today. AAP’s four media shareholders (John Fairfax Holdings, News Limited, West Australian Newspapers and Rural Press) do not influence news coverage and “fiercely protect editorial impartiality and independence.” “The work of our 200 journalists — in busy cities and towns and covering the sparcely populated outback - builds the foundation stones of the content in all daily newspapers in this country (Australia), forms the backbone of radio news bulletins, and provides the background detail for talk-back radio shows and television news bulletins,” Mr Gillies said. Commercial partnerships with a dozen international press agencies including AP, Agence France-Presse, EFE, DPA, PA, Kyodo, Knight-Ridder and NZPA provides global news for Australian subscribers. AAP also manages on behalf of Asia Pacific news agencies, the Asia Pulse real time regional business news service, and AsiaNet, a full text, translated commercial press release distribution business with pinpoint delivery to media outlets worldwide. Photos are available for download at http://www.asianetnews.net. CONTACT: Tony Gillies AAP Editor-in Chief (61) (2) 9322-8000 SOURCE: Australian Associated Press (AAP) --Distributed by AsiaNet (www.asianetnews.net)--