European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Retrenched by Ruth Sinai associated press v Oice of America has been so successful. In its 40 years of Chipping away at communism in Eastern Europe that its role in the Region could be diminished As a result. The last year has been full of triumphs for Voa. Hundreds of its european broadcasters editors and writers have reaped the rewards of years of exile from their homelands and the systematic harassment of the friends and relatives they left behind. But changes in Eastern Europe Are a double edged sword for Voa. With a budget conscious Congress breathing Down. Ils neck the Bush administration is considering cutting or consolidating some of Voa s overseas radio and television services. For the time being however All agree there is still much to be done a. For starters one East european country a Albania a continues to hold out against the tide of Reform. Cracks appeared however in the control of that country a authoritarian communist government when 4,400 albanians rushed into several foreign embassies in Tirana earlier this month and were subsequently allowed to leave the country. Zamira islami an albanian broadcaster at Voa is certain the albanian language radio programs played a major role in the exodus. Albanians who have reached refugee Camps in Italy say they were inspired to make a run for the embassies after hearing on Voa of similar escapes last fall by East germans fleeing their. Repressive communist government. Zamira and her sister Isabela escaped Albania six years ago cleaving the Waters of the ionian sea for 12 hours to the Island of Corfu. Their brother disappeared during the exhausting swim and the Sisters found Refuge in the United states. Their Story is not an uncommon one at Voa where Many employees braved cold Waters barbed wire fences and attack dogs to escape communism. Miro Dobrovosky head of the czechoslovak service was followed by a russian tank Down a Prague Street late one night in August 1968. It was soon after the soviets invaded Czechoslovakia to crush a burgeoning democracy movement and Dobrovosky was publishing an underground Magazine. Quot i was carrying 50 magazines in one hand and a loaf Mary Bitterman at the master control room Board at of bread in the other Quot he said. Suddenly a tank gunned its engine and started driving behind him said Dobrovosky. Quot i have never been so scared Quot said the Burly redhead. A Quot after a while the tank Driver gave up the Chase but Dobrovosky decided it was time to get out taking his family by train to Fisher a czechoslovak playwright and actor defected in 1�79 and came to the Voa in 1985. Several weeks ago he returned Home portraying the character of Vaclav Havel in a stage production of an autobiographical play by the famed czechoslovak dramatist a who now serves As the country s president. Havel reviled and jailed by the communists visited the Voa during a trip to Washington earlier this year. He heaped Praise on the radio station which he said was the most listened to in his country. Jiri Sykora says the czechoslovak service gets a file. Voice of America Headquarters in Washington . A 4. A. A hundreds of letters asking that Voa continue broadcasting. Sykora an actor and writer who spent a year in jail for writing an anti government manuscript left in 1969. His program in which he translates and sings lyrics of american songs in czech and slovak is a popular one. Responding to changed needs Voa has augmented its news and culture programs with scripts about How democratic and free Market systems work Voa officials say East europeans still rely on the station s news about the world and about events in the former . Quot they Trust us to sort it out. Events Are still very confusing for them Quot and journalists Are Only beginning to learn about the role of a free press in society said Dobrovosky. Voa which broadcasts in 43 languages around the world is now Able to have Call in shows with listeners in Eastern Europe who ask questions about everything from the heavy pollution in their countries to How to Start a Small business a in a tit . 1 1wu4 i Octaf. P�9� j i m my i m ctn it cd Jllen Aburton ii pkg Tom Cul my we p�9 71 ran hah the strsndjrripe5 i. Saddam threatens to turn my _ a Sheik Dom into graveyard. J Jat Quot a. A a \ pc i a a a a a a a a. A a in a old ii i Bung peace Friendship to me too so i Nicra of Ftp w i c Day can make a Wor c. J i 4 i 3 to to 1 t i i i j j it s i 4, i a p if j m nil in a world that never takes a Day to rest every Day can make a world of difference. A Day can mean the difference Between a Campaign and a Victory. A budget and a budget Cut. A revolutionary idea and a revolution. The stars and stripes has All the news it takes to keep you on top of the world s events. And a subscription to the stars and stripes can assure you that you la never fall a Day behind. Call one of our circulation offices today listing on Page ii for your subscription to the stars and suites. Or write 10 the Sla s and stripes attn sales promotion Apo 09211 a the stars and stripes a we can make a world of difference in your life. Every Day. Quot saturday August 4, 1990 he stars and stripes 1 7
