For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 25, 2002
President Salutes VOA's 60-Year Commitment to Freedom
VOA Remarks
Voice of America Cohen Building
Washington, D.C.
2:16 P.M EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much for that warm
welcome. I'm glad I
came. (Laughter.) Bob, I want to thank you very
much for your hospitality, and I want to thank you very much for your
willingness to take the reins of the Voice of America in such a
critical time.
I also want to thank all the supporters who are here, those who
support the Voice of America. And I'm glad to see so many
friends of international broadcasting, the Voice of America staff, the
members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, former Voice of America
directors, former U.S. Information Agency directors, staff and
directors from Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Radio
Marti. (Applause.) You all are dedicated
professionals who serve your country and its highest ideals with honor
and with purpose.
I also want to thank Marc Nathanson, who's the chairman of
BBG. Deserves a special thanks for his endowment of the
Nathanson Fellows, between the Voice of America and the Annenberg
School of Journalism. (Applause.)
Sixty years ago, only 79 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the
first Voice of America broadcast across the Atlantic into Nazi Germany,
with these words: Here speaks a voice from
America. We shall tell you the truth.
For decades, the Voice of America has told the world the truth
about America and our policies. Through a world war and a
cold war, in crisis and in calm, the Voice of America has added to the
momentum of freedom. And now, in a new conflict, I'm proud
to say that the Voice of America still speaks strongly and clearly.
To people whose governments broadcast messages of bigotry and hate,
the Voice of America sends a message of tolerance and
respect. To people who are told that democracy is soft and
weak, the Voice of America shows freedom's strength and determination.
To people who live under governments that sustain their power with
lies, the Voice of America brings truth.
Under some regimes, like that in North Korea, simply listening to
the Voice of America is treated as a crime. And the fears of
these regimes are well-founded, because tyranny cannot survive forever
in an atmosphere of truth. The Voice of America is not
neutral between America and America's enemies, between terrorism and
those who defend themselves against terror, between freedom and between
tyranny. The Voice of America is a broadcaster with a
special purpose, a special mandate and a special trust.
As President Reagan said, freedom is not the sole prerogative of a
lucky few, but the inalienable and universal right of all human
beings. The Voice of America spreads that message throughout
the world, with special emphasis on those countries where information
is restricted and free voices are silenced.
The Voice of America broadcasts in 53 languages, to nearly every
country on Earth, reaching an audience of over 90 million
listeners. Many are listening right now, exercising their
God-given right to freedom, free access of information. And
their numbers are growing every day. The Voice of America's
new Middle East Radio Network will offer music, reliable news, and
information in Arabic, and an opportunity to better understand American
principles and American actions.
And I want to thank Norm Pattiz for his perseverance and dedication
to this project. Even before our Armed Forces helped bring
freedom to the Afghan people, the Voice of America was bringing them
the news in languages of Dari and Pashtu. Since September
the 11th, Voice of America has increased its programming in these two
languages, serving as a vital partner in helping rebuild that country.
Throughout its history, Voice of America has applied the power of
technology to the advance of liberty. It has used every
means possible -- shortwave, television, and now the Internet -- to
bypass the barriers of tyrants.
Radio waves are not hindered by borders, and as technology
improves, the Internet will become less vulnerable to the censor's
hand. No one knows what new information technologies will be
available 60 years from now. But two things we do
know: first, that the Voice of America will find a way to
use them; and second, though these means of delivery may change, the
message never will.
It's a simple message. It's a message of freedom, and
freedom is worth defending. (Applause.) And the
truth, no less than the force of arms, is needed for its defense.
Since 1942, you have defended freedom by speaking the truth to
millions. (Applause.) You not only have the ear
of the world, you have the gratitude of your country.
May God bless your efforts, and may God bless
America. (Applause.)
END 2:24
P.M. EST
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