Date : 28/11/2004
KUN0085 4 GEN 0373 KUWAIT /KUNA-UIM3
MDA-GERMANY-RADIO-SHOW
Telephone FM from Berlin, targets Iraqi youth in Baghdad
By: Shuaa Al-Qatti
BERLIN, Nov 28 (KUNA) -- A radio programming targeting Iraqi youth in
Baghdad is broadcasting from Berlin. The programs are financed by the German
Government in an attempt to create some kind of a cultural exchange between
the two countries.
The program, called Telephone FM, is a project financed by the German
ministry of foreign affairs that presents a mix of Arab and western music to
the Iraqi youth.
In a meeting with a number of Arab media figures participating in the
German-Arab Media Dialogue, Founder of the program Anja Wollenberg said that
the radio programs target Iraqi male and female youth between the ages of 18
and 35.
Wollenberg added that the project is supervised by a number of Germans and
Iraqi people and depends on public interviews about Iraqi music, in addition
to discussing Arab-western subjects that concern the Iraqi youth at this age.
She noted that the goal of the program is to reinforce the relationships
between Berlin and Baghdad and to discuss a number of joint issues between the
two countries.
Wollenberg said that the German foreign ministry does not aim, through the
radio station, at presenting a German role model to the Iraqi youth, but it
hopes to give the Iraqi youth a chance to discuss a number of matters related
to their lives, noting that choosing the discussion topics is based upon daily
events in Iraq.
Meanwhile, Fares Abed, an employee in the radio station, said that his
contribution in the radio program comes from his desire to create direct
dialogue with the Iraqi youth and create a window for them to discuss issues
that concern them away from the absolute facts that some people believe in.
Abed added that this program would contribute in helping the Iraqi youth
understand the political and social events and help them discuss these events
away from social or political violence.
Regarding any restrictions, he noted that there are no restrictions or
guidelines on the radio station from neither the Iraqi Interim Government nor
the German Government.
Telephone FM started with a 90-minutes broadcast five days a week. (end)
saq.fhd
KUNA 282140 Nov 04NNNN