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Additional News Releases

Washington, D.C., Feb. 25, 2002 - In remarks earlier today during the observance of the Voice of America's 60th anniversary, President Bush said, "For decades, the Voice of America has told the world the truth about America and our policies. Through a cold war -- in crisis and in calm -- VOA has added to the momentum of freedom." 

"The Voice of America broadcasts in 53 languages, to nearly every country on Earth, reaching an audience of over 90 million listeners. Many are listening right now, exercising their God-given right to freedom, free access of information. And their numbers are growing every day. The Voice of America's new Middle East Radio Network will offer music, reliable news, and information in Arabic, and an opportunity to better understand American principles and American actions," Bush added.

Today's ceremony was broadcast by VOA live on radio and television and streamed on the Internet in English and in simultaneous translations in Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Turkish, Spanish, French to Africa, and Dari to Afghanistan. 

VOA Director Robert R. Reilly, nine former VOA directors, and members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors were on hand as VOA carried Bush's address worldwide on radio, TV, and the internet. 

VOA made its first broadcast on February 24, 1942, just 79 days after Pearl Harbor. Speaking in German, announcer William Harlan Hale told his listeners in war-torn Europe, "Every day at this time, we shall bring you news of the war. The news may be good or bad. We shall tell you the truth." 

Today, the Voice of America is a multimedia international broadcasting service providing news and information in English and 52 other languages on radio, TV, and the internet to an estimated weekly audience of 94 million. VOA broadcasts over 1,000 hours of news, informational, educational, and cultural programming every week. 

For additional information, please contact the Office of External Affairs at (202) 619-2538 or send email to pubaff@voa.gov.