As you probably already know, Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal is facing 
drastic budget cuts.  As from November there will be no more Spanish, 
German and Arabic programmes anymore, and shortwave usage will be 
reduced from 300 to only 140 hours via Waver.
But !
Nine Flemish Euro MP's have sent a letter to Media Minister Eric Van 
Rompuy in protest against the abolition of programmes in Spanish, German 
and Arabic at Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal. The MP's has also written 
to the BRTN chief-executive Bert De Graeve.  They say the cuts will have 
a negative effect on Belgium's voice in the World.  German and Spanish 
are world languages and especially information aimed at Germany 
-Belgium's main trading partner- is important.  Arabic is important for 
the immigrant population in Flanders.  They want alternative savings to 
be considered.  
73 de Guido.
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                     Guido Schotmans, 
       DX-ANTWERP, P.O.Box 16, B-2660 Hoboken, BELGIUM
                     Fido : 2:292/878
                   e-mail :  gs@innet.be
                            dxa@innet.be
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--- JCQWK
 þ MM 1.0 #0313 þ Before I speak, I'd like to say a few words...
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