Today’s Prague Post reports that Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is planning to ask the US Congress for an additional $13 million in funding to construct a new headquarters outside of the centre of Prague. The newspaper says that despite reports in the Czech press that the US government has already agreed to fund the project, negotiations are still underway. The United States isn’t expected to make a final decision on RFE/RL’s request for additional funding until the start of the fiscal year 2006, Oct. 1, 2005.
The paper quotes Don Jensen, director of communications for RFE/RL, as saying that “We’re working very well with Czech officials. We’re making progress [negotiating for the site of the new building], but we’ve still got to get the money from Congress.”
The Prague Post says that RFE/RL will submit its budget request to Congress in September. Funding for the building will be an additional appropriation to the station’s approximately $70 million annual budget. If the station gets the additional funding, Jensen said, the organization wants to make the move as soon as possible, potentially even by 2006, although 2007 is probably a more realistic target.
on Jul 29th, 2004 at 14:48
They won’t get funded this year.
It’s an election year, that means no boat rocking. RFE/RL does not have the power of jobs in a congress critters district, ergo why do they need money.
And if there is a change at the top in DC all bets are off.
Very risky and dumb move