Czech Foreign Minister Lipavský trying to save RFE/RL after US announces funding cut
The US government is halting financial support for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), whose headquarters is based in Prague. The organization has 21 bureaus and broadcasts in 27 languages to 23 countries, promoting independent journalism. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský is discussing whether the EU can take over and continue broadcasting at the Council of Europe meeting in Brussels on Monday.
Founded during the Cold War, Radio Free Europe (RFE) was launched in 1949 with a focus on Soviet satellite states, such as Czechoslovakia, while Radio Liberty (RL), created in 1951, concentrated on the Soviet Union and its republics. Soviet authorities frequently attempted to block the broadcasting, and Communist regimes frequently infiltrated its operations.
At first, secretly funded by the CIA until 1972, the two organizations merged in 1976. RFE/RL was based in Munich from 1949 to 1995 and moved to Prague in 1995. Since that time, the organization has supported democratic forces across numerous continents, leading to Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský’s comments that the EU could take on the responsibility of funding the organization:
“[RFE/RL] broadcasts to a number of countries from Russia to Iran and Belarus, where it is an anchor for democratic forces and I think it is in the interest of Europe that the broadcasting will continue.”
The foreign minister further explained that with the US’s termination of funding, it would be difficult to replace the organization’s operations:
“The institution is composed of people, processes, systems, and collaborations with other broadcasters. If that ends, then we can’t simply replace it. So, it’s imperative to discuss what we can do to preserve the institution if the US cuts funding.”
Member of the European Parliament Danuše Nerudová agreed that Europe should take on the role of financing the organization:
“[The budget for the organization] is USD 150 million, which Europe—and not just the Czech Republic—should find among itself, because it is important for security and stability.”
Former Czech Ambassador Žantovský reflects on RFE/RL's role since 1995
When RFE/RL’s headquarters moved to Prague, Michael Žantovský was the Czech Ambassador to the US, overseeing some of the collaboration between the US and its operation in Czechia’s capital. So, I asked the former ambassador about the role of it in the region and what he makes of the US’ decision to cut funding to the broadcaster.
Since you were Czech Ambassador to the US at the time in 1995 when RFE/RL moved their headquarters from Munich to Prague, what do you make of the move and can you reflect on the role and importance of RFE/RL in the region over the years?
“Well, in 1995, we supported and helped to implement the move of the radios from Munich to Prague, because we saw them as important tools in the arsenal of US foreign policy throughout the Cold War and afterward. And so I think there's no question that they made a significant contribution to the Western victory in the Cold War.
“I believe that it would be premature to phase out radio companies today when the enemies of democracy and the enemies of the liberal government and the enemies of the West use all types of propaganda tools, both digital and traditional, to spread the image of the West as a decadent, declining, and corrupt civilization. I think we need to oppose that and the broadcasters were one of the tools to do that.”
So, would you say that, just as it was in the 1990s during the democratic transition, it is still as relevant now to continue supporting these organizations that, as you're saying, promote liberal government and democracy?
“I would avoid ranking the importance that now times have changed, the technologies have changed. But one thing that I think remains is that democracy and liberal governments still have enemies and the enemies are using all the tools at their disposal to spread disinformation and lie about the West and we should be able to oppose that.”
Billionaire Elon Musk had called for the shutdown, claiming the media were "radical left crazy people." Do you see a bias in RFE/RL’s reporting?
“Well, we remember RFE/RL from the days of the Cold War as one the centers of staunch anti-Communist thinking. And many Czech and Slovak anti-Communist exiles were working and broadcasting in the broadcasters. I have to confess that I haven't listened to the broadcasters lately because there, as you know, is not a Czech broadcast anymore. But I would suspect that the primary stream of the broadcast is still intended to support democracy and oppose its enemies.”
Advocates of this funding, of course, would say that the funding of these agencies supports democracy. Critics will respond that this is an exercise of “soft power” similar to John F. Kennedy’s support of USAID during the Cold War. Is there a way to frame US funding of journalists abroad as “soft power” and thus have some legitimacy to the criticism that it shouldn’t be funded in the region? What would you say?
“I personally don't see much sense in distinguishing foreign policy tools into soft power and hard power. Some of the broadcasting of the radios during the Cold War was pretty sharp. It’s just one of the tools in the toolbox and we are depriving ourselves of opportunities if we give up the tools. Of course, it always makes sense to see to it that they are used efficiently and economically, but the purpose, in my mind, is still there.”
