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

Athens Radio 2000 News, Ankara Radio Net And VOA Cooperate on Ipekci Broadcast

Washington, D.C., November 12, 1999 -- The Greek and Turkish Services of the Voice of America (VOA) have finalized plans for the first ever joint "radio bridge" between VOA affiliate stations in Athens and Ankara. This historic link will be used to promote a special half-hour program called "The Ipekci Awards: A Bridge of Peace and Friendship between Greece and Turkey."

The program commemorates the biannual Ipekci Awards, named after Turkish reporter Abdi Ipekci, who was assassinated in 1979. Ipekci's assassination followed a trip to Athens where he discussed ways the Greek and Turkish media could work towards the improvement of relations between the two countries. The Ipekci Peace and Friendship Prize was established by Dr. Andreas Politakis months after Ipekci's death. The award is presented once every two years under the auspices of the United Nations.

The broadcast will be co-hosted by VOA Greek Service reporter George Bistis and VOA Turkish Service reporter Taclan Suerdem. Both broadcasters have been selected to be among this year's recipients of the "Abdi lpekci Peace and Friendship Prize," to be presented on November 12 in Athens.

The stations involved in the linked broadcast are RADIO 2000 NEWS of Athens and RADIO NET of Ankara. VOA's Bistis and Suerdern will be at the studio of RADIO 2000 NEWS (104.0 FM). Journalists Alex Rigas of RADIO 2000 NEWS and Ilker Gurer of RADIO NET will also participate in the live show. Invited guests at the station in Athens will include Dr. Andreas Politakis, founder of the lpekci Peace Prize; Nur Batur, a distinguished correspondent of the Turkish daily Hurriyet; and representatives of the Greek and Turkish Committees of the Ipekci Foundation.

The commemorative program will air live in Ankara and Athens from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, November 11, 1999 (10:30 a.m. Washington, D.C. local time).

The Voice of America broadcasts in 53 languages to more than 91 million listeners around the world.

Contact: Joe O'Connell
Phone: 202-619-2538
E-mail: pubaff@voa.gov