Salam/ Hello

a short English explanation will follow//

Bush administrasiyasi 2008-ci il uchun budce teklifini Konqresse gonderib. Bu

layihede Irana yayimin artirilmasi nezerde tutulsa da bu olkede yashayan

Azerbaycanlilar uchun hech bir yayim nezerde tutulmayib. Her birinizden bu mektubu

chap ederek Amerika Birleshmish Shtatlari Dovlet Departamentine ve Amerikanin Sesi,

Radio Farda, Azadlig Radiosunu idare eden Beynelxalq Yayimchilar Qurumuna

gondermenizi xahish edirem.

Mektubu chap edib, gosterilen unvana ve faks nomresine gonderin. Elece de metni

kopyalayib e-mail unvanina gondere bilersiniz. Amma nezere alin ki, faks ve kagiz

mektublar daha effektli olur Amerika Birleshmish Shtatlarinda yashayan

hemvetenlerimnizden bu mektubu ozlerinin Konqress ve senatdaki numayendelerine de

gondermeleri xahish olunur.

Bu kampaniyanin imkan daxilinde tez heyata kechirilmesi olduqca vacibdir. Odur ki,

sizden bu mektubleri mumkun qeder tez gondermenizi rica edirik

attached is a campaign letter to BBG, please copy the content to your email inbox

and email it to addresses provided in the letter. You also could print and fax it.

this is a time sensitive campaign; please send it as soon as possible and do not

forget to add your name at the end.

Teshekurler,,, thank you Fakhteh Zamani

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)
330 Independence Avenue SW
Washington , DC 20237

Tel: 202/203-4545
Fax: 202/203-4585

publicaffairs@ibb.gov

pubaff@ibb.gov

To:  Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice

Cc: Broadcasting Board Governors (BBG)

We are writing you to address a concern of Iranian Azerbaijanis about State Department's Democracy Promotion program in Iran . 

The administration has requested a $75 million supplemental appropriation during 2006 to support democracy promotion activities in Iran . According to State Department, $50 million of the supplemental funds would be used to establish around-the-clock satellite television and radio broadcasts in Farsi into Iran . The budget request for FY 2008 unfortunately reflects the same attitude.

Breaking the walls of censorship by professional broadcasting is one of the most effective ways for US to get its message to Iranian people including Azerbaijanis. Azerbaijanis constitute about a third of Iran 's population. Broadcasting 24/7 only in Farsi will give the largest ethnic group of Iran the wrong impression that United States , like Iran 's government, is ignoring their basic human rights of communicating in their own mother language. Such broadcasting can be a truly effective means for reaching the people of Iran .

Furthermore, for many of them Azerbaijani is the only language they can fully understand. To diffuse her message of promoting democracy, United States ' broadcastings should have an acceptable presence in the language of Iran 's largest minority. 

VOA maintains two websites in Azerbaijani language, one in Latin script (legible for people of Azerbaijan Republic ) and one in Arabic script (legible for Iranian Azerbaijanis). Despite of Iran 's filtering of political/news websites VOA Azerbaijani has been very effective in bringing  Iran and world's news to the attention of Azerbaijanis in Iran .  Even a single radio program on VOA 's Azerbaijani section which broadcasts to The Republic of Azerbaijan, called  "A window to the Iranian Azerbaijan" has been overwhelmingly welcomed among Azerbaijanis in Iran . But for Iranian Azerbaijanis the need for a free and reliable source of news and information in their language is still felt.

In addition to VoA Azerbaijani section, recent publication of editorial articles by VoA has also been welcomed and has had a positive impact on Azerbaijanis in Iran by reflecting violation of their rights.

Iran consists of many ethnic, religious and linguistic groups. Giving equal opportunities to these groups to have their voice and a channel to express themselves will ensure their peaceful collaboration in the future of Iran .

We believe demography is the mother of democracy and respecting demographic combination of Iran is the first step towards promoting democracy and tolerance.

We ask US State department, Broadcasting Board of Governors and Voice of America to expand broadcastings of VOA's Azerbaijani section for Azerbaijanis living in Iran .

Sincerely, ……..