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Additional News Releases

Washington, D.C., Sept. 4, 2001 - Starting this week, Macedonians will be able to tune into the 19 FM stations of the Radio Kanal 77 network throughout their country for compact, news-intensive segments provided by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Voice of America (VOA), the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) announced today.

RFE/RL began broadcasts in Macedonian on Sept. 1, and on Sept. 3, Radio Kanal 77, Macedonia’s only nation-wide, non-public radio network, began carrying both VOA and RFE/RL Macedonian broadcasts.

Commenting on the start-up of the RFE/RL and VOA broadcasts on Radio Kanal 77, BBG Chairman Marc Nathanson said, "The launch of RFE/RL Macedonian broadcasts, coupled with the fact that both RFE/RL and VOA Macedonian will be carried nationwide over Radio Kanal 77's FM affiliates, could not come at a better time. We are delivering the news and America's message when and where it matters most. Straight news is needed now more than ever in Macedonia, both to inform the citizenry and help improve the odds for adoption of the peace agreement. We are delighted that two of our prime broadcasters are working together to make this possible."

In order to maximize audience reach, RFE/RL's and VOA's 15- and 30-minute program segments will air intermittently from noon through late evening. RFE/RL will broadcast a total of 45 minutes a day, while VOA also broadcasts another 60 minutes of programming in Macedonian on other affiliate stations in the country. VOA has been broadcasting in Macedonian since early 1999, and broadcasts were expanded to an hour a day last spring.

Initially, VOA will broadcast five 15-minute segments per week at 0900-0915 local time. RFE/RL will have broadcast daily segments at 1200-1215, 1500-1515, and 1900-1915 local time via Canal 77 affiliates. VOA Macedonian is also rebroadcast at different times on other FM stations in Macedonia and one of the VOA Macedonian programs is also carried on medium wave frequency 1197kHz.

The presidentially appointed Broadcasting Board of Governors is responsible for all U.S. Government supported international broadcasting, including, in addition to the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio and TV Marti broadcasts to Cuba, and the WORLDNET satellite television service.

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