RFE/RL President's Perspectives

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RFE/RL President's Perspectives

Moving Mountains,
Moving RFE/RL

I travelled to Riga recently to attend a summit of NATO candidate countries July 5 - 6 and found a surprising number of Latvian journalists eager to talk to me in my capacity as president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. I met with reporters individually, as well as collectively, and also gave an Internet interview. In addition to the customary flurry of questions about our former colleagueUldis Grava becoming the head of Latvian Public Television, I was asked frequently about the possibility of accepting Prime Minister Andris Berzins' invitation for RFE/RL to move to Riga and about the role of broadcasting in advancing the reach of democracy. I know you also are interested in those issues and I share with you views I expressed to the Latvian press. Here are some of the exchanges:

RFE/RL President Tom Dine (left) with Latvian Service Director Peter Zvagulis, in Riga in early July, look at a building being offered to RFE/RL for possible relocation.

Latvian Service Director Peter Zvagulis (left) with RFE/RL President Tom Dine surveing the Latvian State Television complex in Riga on July 6, 2002.

Question: Mr. Dine, when the RFE Latvian Service began broadcasting to Latvia in Russian eighteen months ago you were surprised to discover the existence of certain restrictions on non-Latvian TV and radio broadcasts. Are you still surprised?

Answer: Yes, there are too many restrictions. I cannot list them all but I feel them. Even so, the media situation in Russia is much worse and your media system more open in comparison.

Q: Does your Moscow bureau feel any pressure from Russian authorities?

A: Certainly, all of us feel pressure. Russian Media Minister Lesin is informed of our broadcasts and says Radio Liberty programs in Chechen should be carefully monitored.. Some Russian officials say our Moscow bureau should be closed, although it has nothing to do with our broadcasts to Chechnya which are out of Prague. Our Moscow bureau complies with Russian rules and regulations and does not deserve threats.

Q: You will not stop your broadcasts for Russia, in other words?

A: No. Even if we are banned, we will continue broadcasting. Perhaps, even from Latvia.

Q: And who is your audience in Russia and in Latvia?

A:The profile of an RFE/RL listener is a well-educated person, capable of making decisions - political, economic, and often a leader of opinions. Our listener is interested in politics, reform, and is used to getting information from different sources. RFE/RL aims to give more than just a news report. We also try to explain what it means, what is behind it and provide the views of major interested parties.

Q: You said as well that RFE/RL broadcasts are aimed at integrating the Latvian and Russian-speaking parts of our society. Have you succeeded?

A.: I can only say that the problem is still there and divisions continue to exist within Latvian society. On the plus side, the government of Latvia is changing some standards and amending legislation. State radio discusses the problem, and at RFE/RL we also do what we can to promote tolerance and harmony...... The dialogue should be civilized on both sides without violence. Each side must be prepared to make concessions, show goodwill, and meet the other side halfway. I hope everyone, Russians and Latvians, understand this.

Q: How can radio broadcasts stimulate integration?

A: The effort to close the gap between various groups in society separated by social, ethnic, religious and language differences is like shifting a heavy boulder down a mountain. At first, it takes many people standing at the peak and exerting all their strength to push the boulder forward. You have initiatives by government, in the media, by non-government groups and residents who want to live in a peaceful neighborhood. Eventually, the boulder begins to move and gathers its own momentum as it rolls down the mountainside, flattening obstacles and smoothing the path. Building democracy is a long process. At Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, our instruments are the programs we broadcast in Latvian, Russian and more than 30 other languages. I believe the boulder is beginning to move and will gather momentum if all sides make an effort to be tolerant.

Q: There were some speculations on the Radio Free Europe move from Prague to Riga. Do you contemplate it?

A: Prime-Minister Andris Berzins wrote me a gracious and generous letter inviting us to Latvia. For the time being, we are concentrating on possibilities in Prague. But iIf we fail to find a suitable site, I can say only that I have been to Latvia several times and am always happy to visit. Latvia is a great place and Latvians are great people. I plan to visit the Latvian Television building in Riga again later this week.