The funding for Voice of America and Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFERL) broadcasts to 7 Eastern European countries has been cut from the U.S. federal budget

The funding for Voice of America and Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFERL) broadcasts to 7 Eastern European countries -- including the Baltic republics -- has been cut from the U.S. federal budget. In a 65-28 vote Jan. 22, the U.S. Senate approved an omnibus appropriations bill that funds government activities for fiscal year 2004, which actually began in October. The bill was approved by the House of Representatives in December. The White House's fiscal 2004 budget proposal cut funding for broadcasts to Latvia as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia. The money saved is to be diverted to new broadcasting initiatives in the Mideast. RFERL broadcasts to Latvia began in 1975 as part of Radio Liberty. Before merging, Radio Free Europe directed its broadcasts to Eastern European countries behind the Iron Curtain, while Radio Liberty beamed to the Soviet Union, including Latvia. The final full-format broadcast, prepared by staff in Prague and Rīga, was aired Dec. 31 and featured a look back on the role played by the station during the Cold War as well as after the renewal of independence in Latvia. One portion of the final broadcast was devoted to the weekly "Latgolas bolss" (The Voice of Latgale) program, which was aimed at Latgallian speakers in the Latgale province of eastern Latvia. Abbreviated Latvian broadcasts have continued into January while the fate of appropriations bill remained undecided.