wfn.org | AWR Sponsors Broadcasts In Kazakstan And Kyrgyzstan

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

February 12, 1999
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Adventist World Radio Sponsors Broadcasts In Kazakstan 
And Kyrgyzstan

Tula, Russia. [APD/AWR] The Adventist World Radio 
Administrative Committee recently voted to sponsor 
broadcasts in Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Russian, heard 
throughout the republics of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, 
as well as part of Uzbekistan, according to Don 
Jacobsen, AWR president. AWR shares the sponsorship 
with the Southern Union of the Euro-Asia Division 
(ESD) of Seventh-day Adventists.

Formerly broadcast on AWR's shortwave schedule, Kazakh 
and Kyrgyz have been transferred to the facilities of 
Kazakstan Radio and Kyrgyz Radio through a leasing 
arrangement which began in October 1998 and will 
continue through 1999 on a renewable basis.  The 
programs, heard four times a week on AM and FM 
stations through the countries, are produced by 
Adventists who speak those languages.

"We have already received many calls," says Victor 
Rabinovich, director of the Voice of Hope studio in 
Almaty, Kazakhstan, which was funded by AWR, and where 
programs in Kazakh and Kyrgyz are produced.  "People 
thank us for the program, and ask us to keep on 
broadcasting."  The Russian programs are produced at 
the ESD's Voice of Hope Media Centre in Tula, Russia

"We estimate that there's a potential audience of 
something over 20 million people who will be able to 
hear the broadcasts," says Bert Smit, AWR's region 
director for Europe and the Commonwealth of 
Independent States (CIS).  "Since these countries were 
former members of the USSR, at least 25 percent of the 
population speak Russian, so we are happy with the mix 
of languages being broadcast."

Smit said that the ESD is also exploring the 
possibilities of getting Uzbek on to a national 
network in Uzbekistan.  C. Lee Huff, President of ESD, 
says "These broadcasts are a vital part of the 
outreach for the Seventh-day Adventist Southern Union 
of Euro-Asia Division."

"AWR is pleased to participate with the ESD in these 
broadcasts," says Jacobsen.  "We hope that  listeners 
will gain  a positive understanding of life through 
the health and family messages of the Voice of Hope." 
[99/03/07]