The “Voice of Lebanon, voice of freedom and dignity” (VOL) radio station will resume its broadcast at midnight tonight under the management of the Phalange Party on 100.3 and 100. 5 FM, employees said in a news conference yesterday.
The station’s deputy director Georges Yazbek warned third parties against broadcasting under the same name, a step that would violate ownership rights and put violators on trial before civil and criminal courts. Mr Yazbek was referring to claims by journalist Rose Zamel, who has argued that the station is no longer owned by the Phalange Party.
“The VOL administration warns against using the name ‘Voice of Lebanon’ since it exclusively belongs to our station,” he said. “Any usage of the name will be considered a violation of ownership rights and subject violators to civil and criminal accountability,” Mr Yazbek said.
The Phalange Party is due to regain control over both the radio’s name and the building that houses the radio in Achrafieh after a lease contract between the Modern Media Company owned by the late Simon al-Khazen and the Phalange Party expires at midnight on November 30, 2010. The party gave notice to the radio’s current administration eight months ago that the lease contract ratified with former Phalange Party leader Karim Pakradouni on October 30, 2005 ends midnight Tuesday, a source close to the party told The Daily Star.
The source said 56 out of 60 employees have informed the Modern Media Company of their decision to work under the legitimate umbrella of the Lebanese Media Company, which is affiliated with the Phalange Party.
Ms Zamel, who is part of the Modern Media Company, is waging a relentless battle to keep the radio’s name, with plans to start airing from a new premises.
“The VOL, in line with its ethical responsibilities, apologizes for some of the mistakes committed in the past era which go against the principles of freedom and dignity,” Mr Yazbek said, referring to Ms Zamel’s tenure as the director of the radio station’s political programmes during the last 15 years.
(Source: The Daily Star)
Andy Sennitt adds: The Voice of Lebanon retransmits live, the Arabic news of Radio Canada International “RCI”, Deutsche Welle (DW), and the BBC through a partnership agreement with the three stations.
