Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky intends to discuss with his EU counterparts the issue of the further work of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty after the U.S. administration halted government funding for the platform.
He said this on the air of the “Václav Moravec Questions” talk show on Czech Television on Sunday, Ukrinform reports.
“I will raise the issue tomorrow (Monday) at the Foreign Affairs Council,” Lipavsky said.
He explained that there will be discussions on how to at least partially preserve broadcasting, but admitted that it is impossible to say whether it will be possible to make a decision on some replacement of funding; at the moment the issue requires political discussion.
He noted that the decision of the new U.S. administration was not completely unexpected. Now, the diplomat noted, it is necessary to carefully analyze what the operations of Radio Free Europe mean for the Czech Republic, where its headquarters are located, as well as for the whole of Europe and beyond. Lipavsky recalled that this is a voice of freedom and one of the few reliable sources of information in such dictatorships, as Russia, Iran, and Belarus, where freedom of speech is restricted. It was also popular in the former Czechoslovakia during the times of complete totalitarianism.
“I think it is in the interest of Europe that their broadcasts continue,” said the head of the Czech Foreign Ministry.
Earlier, the minister stated that Radio Free Europe and Voice of America remain one of the few free sources of information for those living in conditions of oppression.
“Silencing them would not just be a loss for them, but for all of us who believe in democracy,” he wrote on X.
The talk show also discussed the topic of a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. Lipavsky said Putin had not yet backed down from any of his demands as he wants to roll back the security architecture to 1997, that is, to the moment when the Czech Republic became a member of NATO (this happened in March 1999).
“It is in the interest of our country not to agree to Putin’s ultimatums,” the Foreign Minister said. He also recalled that last year alone, Russia ran over 100 sabotage operations across Europe.
Lipavsky expressed hope that EU leaders will be able to achieve results in the issue of helping Ukraine despite opposition from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Continuing to firmly support Kyiv is clearly in the interest of the Czech Republic, he emphasized, assuring that Czech diplomacy is working with partners on a lasting peace.
As reported, the day before, the Trump administration announced the decision to revoke all funding for Radio Free Europe. The broadcaster’s main editorial office is located in Prague. The broadcast of Voice of America has also been effectively terminated.
Source: Czech foreign minister to raise in Brussels issue of RFE/RL's operations
