Voice of America Washington, DC 20547 Tel: (202) 619-2538 Fax: (202) 619-1241 E-mail: pubaff@ibb.gov

Washington, D.C., April 2, 1999 -- The Voice of America's Albanian Service and the International Red Cross are working closely to reunite families that have been separated as a result of the forced expulsion from Kosovo. As the International Red Cross compiles an ever-growing list of refugees, it provides the names to VOA's Albanian Service. Names of refugees are read on VOA's Albanian-language shortwave broadcasts along with the phone number of the International Red Cross in Albania.

"We very much hope that family members will hear the names of their loved ones on our broadcasts and be reunited by calling the International Red Cross," says Elez Biberaj, Chief of VOA's Albanian Service. "Refugees are pouring over the border at such a fast pace, and the only news they may receive is through international broadcasts like those of the Voice of America."

The Voice of America has successfully broadcast programs in the past to reunite families in other areas of the world. Many families in Central Africa and other parts of the Balkans have been reunited in previous crises.

The Voice of America has also added a "Balkan News - Live Audio Feed" to its Internet Web site, featuring live newscasts in Albanian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian, and English. Anyone with access to a computer and the plug-in Real Audio can listen to these broadcasts on their computer.

On March 24, VOA expanded its Serbian and Albanian broadcasts by fifteen minutes, bringing the total daily broadcasts for Albanian to two hours and fifteen minutes and for Serbian to two hours and forty-five minutes. The Voice of America broadcasts world, regional, and U.S. news to an estimated weekly audience of 83 million listeners.

Contact: George Mackenzie
Phone: (202) 619-2538