Afghan Media Receives Major Italian Support
02-10-2002 ()
At the signing ceremony in Kabul
© UNESCO
Italy has provided UNESCO with $4.0m to help develop the media in Afghanistan. The funds are aimed primarily at supporting television production at Radio-Television Afghanistan (RTA) and in re-establishing the country’s educational television service.
Speaking at a signing ceremony in Kabul (1st October, 2002), the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Government of Italy, Margherita Boniver, said that Italy’s commitment to Afghanistan was very serious and on-going. She highlighted the importance of the use of television in education in a country like Afghanistan where formal schooling opportunities are often limited.
Also signing the protocol was Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, A.H. Mubarez. “We have enjoyed a long relationship with Italy” he said, “and we know that we can rely on our Italian friends to help us at this critical time”.
The Director of the UNESCO Kabul office, Martin Hadlow, also signed the document. “This is truly an outstanding financial contribution,” he said. “Italy has shown its strong support for the development of television in Afghanistan and we are delighted that it has also indicated such confidence in UNESCO as implementing partner to work with the Afghan authorities to get the job done”.
Afghanistan once had a vibrant educational broadcasting service offering distance education opportunities to remote areas. However, years of fighting left the ETV building in Kabul derelict and almost ruined. A small radio and television educational service continues and it will benefit greatly from the Italian contribution in terms of equipment upgrading and staff training, thus ensuring the delivery of high-quality distance education programming.
Also signing the protocol was Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, A.H. Mubarez. “We have enjoyed a long relationship with Italy” he said, “and we know that we can rely on our Italian friends to help us at this critical time”.
The Director of the UNESCO Kabul office, Martin Hadlow, also signed the document. “This is truly an outstanding financial contribution,” he said. “Italy has shown its strong support for the development of television in Afghanistan and we are delighted that it has also indicated such confidence in UNESCO as implementing partner to work with the Afghan authorities to get the job done”.
Afghanistan once had a vibrant educational broadcasting service offering distance education opportunities to remote areas. However, years of fighting left the ETV building in Kabul derelict and almost ruined. A small radio and television educational service continues and it will benefit greatly from the Italian contribution in terms of equipment upgrading and staff training, thus ensuring the delivery of high-quality distance education programming.
Related themes/countries
· Public Service Broadcasting: News Archives 2002
· Afghanistan: News Archive 2002
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- UNESCO Kabul
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