11 September 1998
(Congressman asks Havel's help to ensure broadcasts this fall) (640) Washington -- Congressman Benjamin A. Gilman, Chairman of the Committee on International Relations, has called on Czechoslovakian President Vaclav Havel to help ensure that Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) will be able to begin broadcasting to Iraq and Iran this fall. In a letter to Havel, released September 8, Gilman expressed appreciation for the Czech leader's commitment to RFE/RL's proposal to broadcast in Farsi to Iran and Arabic to Iraq. But he also expressed concern about statements by individual Czech officials, reported in the press, that "appear to imply that the Czech authorities will "evaluate" RFE/RL programming to Iran and Iraq and that the authorities would play a role in the operational decision making of the radios." Such an approach, he said, "calls into question the fundamental values our two peoples have long shared about the central role of a free media for a free society, values that you have repeatedly reaffirmed in your public remarks. "My colleagues and I thus very much hope that you will work with Prime Minister Zeman and Foreign Minister Kavan to ensure that RFE/RL will be able to begin its broadcasts to Iran and Iraq this fall. We know that like us, you understand just how important these broadcasts will be as a symbol of our new alliance in the fields of international security and democratic change," Gilman said. Following is the text of Gilman's letter to Havel: (Begin Text) His Excellency Vaclav Havel President The Czech Republic RE: RADIO FREE IRAQ AND IRAN Dear Mr. President: We understand that you will be visiting our country next week. We recognize that under your leadership, the Czech Republic has led the way in helping to integrate Europe and to expand the Western alliance. We look forward to assisting ways our two countries can work together to strengthen NATO and promote democratic change throughout the region and beyond. In this connection, please allow me to express our appreciation for all you have done to help the United States promote democratic change and a free flow of information in the Middle East, especially to Iran and Iraq. Central to that effort, of course, are Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's broadcasts in Farsi to Iran and Arabic to Iraq. And we are deeply grateful for your forthright personal commitment to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's work in this area. We are especially pleased with your public support for the proposition that RFE/RL was invited to Prague without any conditions attached. But recently we have become very concerned by several statements made by individual Czech officials that appear to call that principle into question. These statements, as reported in the press, appear to imply that the Czech authorities will "evaluate" RFE/RL programming to Iran and Iraq and that the authorities would play a role in the operational decision making of the radios. Such an approach would be unprecedented in our history. But more important, it calls into question the fundamental values our two peoples have long shared about the central role of a free media for a free society, values that you have repeatedly reaffirmed in your public remarks. My colleagues and I thus very much hope that you will work with Prime Minister Zeman and Foreign Minister Kavan to ensure that RFE/RL will be able to begin its broadcasts to Iran and Iraq this fall. We know that like us, you understand just how important these broadcasts will be as a symbol of our new alliance in the fields of international security and democratic change. We wish you good health and a safe trip. With best wishes, Sincerely, BENJAMIN A. GILMAN Chairman (End Text)