Help Audiences in Authoritarian Countries Understand the Principles and Practices of Democratic, Free and Just Societies
Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State, Talks with VOA Russian
In mid-November, VOA’s Russian Service spoke with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as part of the service’s coverage of a conference co-sponsored by the Russian Embassy and the Kennan Institute on the U.S.-Soviet Relationship during the time of the Cold War. In an interview with VOA, Kissinger discussed the present relationship between the Obama Administration and Russia. “I think we are on the right road,” the former secretary of state said, “and I expect it to continue to improve.” Discussing the role of human rights in U.S. foreign policy, Mr. Kissinger said, “We should advocate human rights where we can, but we should also respect the dignity of other countries and not think that we can impose our preferences.”

Members of Congress Recognize VOA’s Ukrainian Service on 60th Anniversary
Prominent members of Congress recognized the 60th anniversary of the Voice of America’s Ukrainian Service by placing statements of support in the Congressional Record. The ceremony was attended by Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, who said, “While no longer broadcasting on radio as it did for most of its 60 years, [VOA] reaches more Ukrainians than ever with daily broadcasts over Ukrainian television—something unthinkable during Soviet rule—and reporting on its website.”

Also in attendance were Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio and Rep. Sander M. Levin (D-MI)

Daily television programming produced by VOA’s Ukrainian service reaches an estimated weekly audience of 4.8 million adults in Ukraine.

RFA Mandarin Service Investigates Mysterious Death
Peter Zhong investigated the report that a wealthy young man, who had returned to his hometown in Zhejiang province to collect a large debt, was found a day later dead in a river. The police ruled his death to be the result of a drug overdose. An autopsy, requested by the family, found 11 broken ribs and multiple bruises. The police revised their report to say that cause of death was drowning. RFA reported the family’s suspicion that the young man, who used to work for a nightclub owned and operated by a crime ring and several local police officers, was murdered for knowing too much inside information. The police have refused to investigate further.

RFA's Korean Service Interviews Former North Korean Officer
RFA’s Korean Service interviewed a former North Korean military officer who said that between 2004 and 2007, North Korea built about 800 bunkers in the demilitarized zone to store military equipment. The former military officer defected and then worked for a South Korean military intelligence agency. In the interview with RFA, the defector said that it is easier than ever to get military information inside North Korea because of widespread corruption. According to the defector, corrupt military officials even attempted to get soil and water samples around a North Korea nuclear site just for the money.

RFA's Libby Liu Featured on Huffington Post
In the wake of President Obama's trip to Asia, RFA President Libby Liu had a column published on the Huffington Post blog lamenting the lack of free flow of information in many Asian countries. “As the world marks the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Dec. 10, the principle of Article 19 - the right to 'seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers' - still eludes billions in Asia,” she wrote. See the whole column here.

Martis Cover Changing relationship between U.S. and Cuba
Radio Marti News interviewed Ricardo Zuniga, head of the Cuban desk at the Department of State. He told Radio Marti that U.S. policy towards Cuba is based on the promotion of democracy, promotion of civil society in Cuba, and respect for human rights. On Nov. 19, the Radio Marti covered the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Nov. hearing on lifting the travel ban in Cuba and interviewed Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, (D-FL). The Deputy Majority Whip was amongst 53 Democratic members of the House who sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling for support of the embargo on Cuba until democratic reforms are in place.

Martis Cover Correspondence Between Cuban Blogger Yoani Sanchez and President Obama
Both Radio and TV Marti provided extensive coverage of President Barack Obama’s responses to questions posed by blogger Yoani Sanchez on U.S. relations with Cuba and later published in Sanchez’ blog “Generation Y.” In an interview with Radio Marti she discussed the reasons why she decided to write to the President and how proud she was that he answered. Sanchez observed that she shares many things in common with the President, as both are of the same generation and believe in the importance of the Internet as a means of communications. Both Radio and TV Marti also covered the beating of Yoani Sanchez’ husband, blogger Reinaldo Escobar in Havana.

Coverage of Latin American News
Radio Marti covered elections in Honduras and Uruguay in late November with special live interviews from both countries. The reports included interviews with international observers, Honduran journalists, and members of Congress. In addition, TV Marti provided coverage of the Ibero-American Summit in Estoril, Portugal including a noteworthy debate over elections in Honduras.