[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S14052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY'S SUCCESS IN PROMOTING 
  DEMOCRACY AND ITS CONTINUING CONTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NATIONAL 
                               INTERESTS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 281, S. Con. Res. 92.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the title of the 
concurrent resolution.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 92) recognizing Radio 
     Free Europe/Radio Liberty's success in promoting democracy 
     and its continuing contribution to United States national 
     interests.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the 
concurrent resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 92) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 92

       Whereas on May 1, 1951, Radio Free Europe inaugurated its 
     full schedule of broadcast services to the people of Eastern 
     Europe and, subsequently, Radio Liberty initiated its 
     broadcast services to the peoples of the Soviet Union on 
     March 1, 1953, just before the death of Stalin;
       Whereas now fifty years later, Radio Free Europe/Radio 
     Liberty (in this concurrent resolution referred to as ``RFE/
     RL'') continues to promote democracy and human rights and 
     serve United States national interests by fulfilling its 
     mission ``to promote democratic values and institutions by 
     disseminating factual information and ideas'';
       Whereas Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty were 
     established in the darkest days of the cold war as a 
     substitute for the free media which no longer existed in the 
     communist-dominated countries of Central and Eastern Europe 
     and the Soviet Union;
       Whereas Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty developed a 
     unique form of international broadcasting known as surrogate 
     broadcasting by airing local news about the countries to 
     which they broadcast as well as providing regional and 
     international news, thus preventing the communist governments 
     from establishing a monopoly on the dissemination of 
     information and providing an alternative to the state-
     controlled, party dominated domestic media;
       Whereas the broadcast of uncensored news and information by 
     Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty was a critical element 
     contributing to the collapse of the totalitarian communist 
     governments of Central and Eastern Europe and the Soviet 
     Union;
       Whereas since the fall of the Iron Curtain, RFE/RL has 
     continued to inform and therefore strengthen democratic 
     forces in Central Europe and the countries of the former 
     Soviet Union, and has contributed to the development of a new 
     generation of political and economic leaders who have worked 
     to strengthen civil society, free market economies, and 
     democratic government institutions;
       Whereas United States Government funding established and 
     continues to support international broadcasting, including 
     RFE/RL, and this funding is among the most useful and 
     effective in promoting and enhancing the Nation's national 
     security over the past half century;
       Whereas RFE/RL has successfully downsized in response to 
     legislative mandate and adapted its programming to the 
     changing international broadcast environment in order to 
     serve a broad spectrum of target audiences--people living in 
     fledgling democracies where private media are still weak and 
     do not enjoy full editorial independence, transitional 
     societies where democratic institutions and practices are 
     poorly developed, as well as countries which still have 
     tightly controlled state media;
       Whereas RFE/RL continues to provide objective news, 
     analysis, and discussion of domestic and regional issues 
     crucial to democratic and free-market transformations in 
     emerging democracies as well as strengthening civil society 
     in these areas;
       Whereas RFE/RL broadcasts seek to combat ethnic, racial, 
     and religious intolerance and promote mutual understanding 
     among peoples;
       Whereas RFE/RL provides a model for local media, assists in 
     training to encourage media professionalism and independence, 
     and develops partnerships with local media outlets in 
     emerging democracies;
       Whereas RFE/RL is a unique broadcasting institution long 
     regarded by its audience as an alternative national media 
     that provides both credibility and security for local 
     journalists who work as its stringers and editors in the 
     broadcast region; and
       Whereas RFE/RL fosters closer relations between the United 
     States and other democratic states, and the states of Central 
     Europe and the former Soviet republics: Now therefore be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) congratulates the editors, journalists, and managers of 
     Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on a half century of effort 
     in promoting democratic values, and particularly their 
     contribution to promoting freedom of the press and freedom of 
     expression in areas of the world where such liberties have 
     been denied or are not yet fully institutionalized; and
       (2) recognizes the major contribution of Radio Free Europe/
     Radio Liberty to the growth of democracy throughout the world 
     and its continuing efforts to advance the vital national 
     interests of the United States in building a world community 
     that is more peaceful, democratic, free, and stable.

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