2003 Press Releases

Congratulatory Statement by Ambassador Kennedy on the 50th Anniversary of RFE/RL

March 2003

It is an honor to address Turkmen audiences on Radio Liberty on the 50th anniversary of RFE/RL. I served many years in the old Soviet Union and remember well the critical role that Radio Liberty played in that era.

The radio's service deserves great credit for the contribution it has made over the last half century in expanding freedom and democracy. Its work is far from over. Today, it broadcasts to 28 countries in 29 languages.

Its journalists have often faced personal risk for the sake of obtaining and reporting unbiased news. Radio Liberty's work is particularly vital in a country like Turkmenistan where all media are controlled by the government.

We are deeply grateful to RFE/RL's Turkmen Service for its work here since the first broadcast of Azatlyk Radio in the Turkmen language 50 years ago. Your radio broadcasts are a precious source of information for the people of Turkmenistan.

We know the challenges you face, but know RFE/RL's Turkmen Service will continue its independent and objective coverage of events in and around Turkmenistan. We congratulate you and salute you. Let me close by extending the best wishes of the U.S. Government to the people of Turkmenistan.