BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

15/04/2006

Radio Polonia expands broadcasts to Belarus

Radio Polonia has launched a dedicated Polish language service for the ethnic Polish community in neighbouring Belarus.

It will be available on medium wave and FM in the south and north of he country. The station's Belarussian language service has also been expanded.

The European Union, the United States, as well as international human rights organizations have repeatedly voiced their concern over human rights abuses and disrespect for democratic principles by the Belarussian authorities.

Poland has long urged its western allies to do more to promote democracy in Belarus, not least following the recent presidential elections, whose results were described by observers as dubious.

Interviewed on Radio Polonia, Speaker of the Polish Senate Bogdan Borusewicz said that the sizeable ethnic Polish minority in Belarus, just like all the citizens of Belarus, are entitled to free access to information. Radio Polonia broadcasts intend to offer such information on a more extensive basis than until now.

Polish language transmissions can be heard 20.00-21.00 Belarussian time on 105.3 FM in the south and 19.00-20.00 on 1557 kHz AM in the north of Belarus.

Source:

http://www.poland.pl/news/article,Radio_Polonia_expands_broadcasts_to_Belarus,id,219546.htm