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Washington, D.C., March 25, 2001 -- The Voice of America's Tibetan Language Service completes 10 years of broadcasting today. Despite Chinese government efforts to jam the signal, VOA programs informing the Tibetan people about world and regional events, as well as news of the Tibetan government in exile, are getting through.

Newly released research done in December 2000 among the people of Tibet demonstrates that the Tibetan Service is the most widely listened to radio station in Tibet, drawing more listeners that any other international station and exceeding the audience of stations sponsored and sanctioned by the Chinese government.

"Since its establishment in 1991, VOA's Tibetan Service has been a lifeline to the people of Tibet," said Sanford J. Ungar, Director of VOA. "We now broadcast 4 hours a day, giving the people of that closed society a window on world news, regional events, and news of the Tibetan government in exile. VOA also provides Tibetans with news of American culture and institutions."

VOA's Tibetan Service conducted the first radio interview with the Dalai Lama in the Tibetan language. This was the first opportunity for the people of Tibet to hear the Dalai Lama speak in Tibetan since he went into exile in 1959.

Along with its daily local news coverage, the service now offers weekly features including interviews with prominent Americans, a Tibetan music segment, and "Table Talk," a weekly show about local Tibetan life and culture.

The Voice of America is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the U.S. Government. VOA broadcasts over 900 hours of news, informational, educational, and cultural programming every week to an audience of some 100 million worldwide. Programs are produced and broadcast in English and 52 other languages.

For additional information, please contact the Office of External Affairs at (202) 619-2538.