<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE></TITLE>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3603" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY><!-- Converted from text/plain format -->
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana><IMG style="WIDTH: 338px; HEIGHT: 211px" height=211
src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2069/2427888201_1e05cb5cef.jpg?v=0"
width=400><IMG height=208
src="http://img.radio.cz/pictures/radio/80let/rpqsl70x.jpg"
width=303></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><U><FONT color=#800080>Embaixada da República Checa em
Portugal</FONT></U></DIV>
<DIV>Morada: <BR>Rua Pêro de Alenquer, 14 <BR>1400-294 Lisboa</DIV>
<DIV>tel.: +351 213 010 487 <BR>fax: +351 213 010 629 <BR>e-mail: <A
href="mailto:czechembassylisbon@gmail.com">czechembassylisbon@gmail.com</A>
</DIV>
<DIV>
<H1 class=entry-title><FONT face=Verdana>Radio Prague threatened with shortwave
closure</H1>
<P>It has just been announced that the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs is
looking for<STRONG> Radio Prague</STRONG> to end all shortwave transmissions
from the Czech Republic at the end of 2009. </P>
<P>This would be an irreversible step. Radio Prague is the only customer at
Litomysl and this would result in the closing and dismantling of that
transmitter site.</P>
<P>Radio Prague’s former editor-in-chief <STRONG>David Vaughan</STRONG> is
afraid that the closure of shortwave, if it goes ahead, could spell the end for
Radio Prague. </P>
<P>He writes: “when I was also active in the European Broadcasting Union, I
followed developments in international broadcasting closely. During that period
a number of international broadcasters abandoned their roots in radio – nearly
always at the bidding of bureaucrats rather than those involved in the stations
themselves. Almost without exception the outcome, sooner or later, was the
demise of the station altogether."</P>
<P>Mr Vaughan continues “The news of the latest cuts puts the staff and
management of Radio Prague in a difficult position. It will not be easy for them
to launch a campaign to save the shortwave broadcasts, as they could find
themselves facing the alternative of having to cut jobs instead. Given that the
amount of money needed to save the shortwave broadcasts is so small [about half
a million euro a year], I am convinced that the cause is worth fighting for and
that it does not have to be a case of pitching jobs against shortwave. If the
decision-makers in the government and at the ministry can be made to understand
what is at stake, I am sure that the money can be found. ”</P>
<P>Mr Vaughan says that Radio Prague needs to get listeners support at this
time. Their address is:</P>
<P>Radio Prague<BR>Vinohradská 12<BR>120 99 Prague 2<BR>Czech Republic</P>
<P>Tel: (+420) 221 552 933<BR>Fax: (+420) 221 552 903<BR>E-mail: <A
href="mailto:cr%40radio.cz">cr@radio.cz</A></P>
<P>Listeners should also contact The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech
Republic<BR>Ministerstvo zahranicních vecí<BR>Loretánské námestí 5<BR>118 00
Praha 1, the Czech Republic<BR>tel: +420 224 181 111<BR>e-mail: <A
href="mailto:podatelna%40mzv.cz">podatelna@mzv.cz</A></P>
<P>Listeners should contact the Czech Embassies and representatives in their own
country. <BR>A List of Czech Embassies can be found <A
href="http://www.mzv.cz/jnp/en/diplomatic_missions/czech_missions_abroad/index.htm"
target=_blank>here</A>.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Fonte: Media Network, David Vaughan via Jonathan Murphy/Mike
Barraclough</P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>