Elez Biberaj

RIP Kevin Klose Deeply saddened by the loss of Kevin Klose. I had the privilege of working closely with him during his last stint as director of RFE/RL (2012–14) while I led VOA’s Eurasia Division – a period when cooperation between our organizations deepened in truly meaningful ways. I remain especially grateful for his friendship and support during a critical period in 2020, when VOA faced a frontal attack on its editorial independence. Kevin understood the stakes and the imperative of defending VOA’s core principles. His words of encouragement, and his quiet but unwavering solidarity, meant more than I can express. I also cherish the signed copy of his masterpiece Russia and the Russians (1984). A towering figure in international broadcasting, a great journalist, and a generous, principled friend. He will be sorely missed.

Remembering Rep. Eliot L. Engel Rep. Engel's passing marks the loss of an extraordinary public servant who spent decades championing human rights, democratic values, free flow of information, and the voices of people living under oppression. His support for Albania’s democratic transition and advocacy for Kosova's independence left a profound legacy and set a standard for principled engagement. I had the privilege of interviewing him many times over the years, and he consistently demonstrated principled judgment, empathy, and moral clarity. He was also a true friend of the Voice of America. At the 70th anniversary of VOA’s Albanian Service in 2013, he described VOA as “our main tool in letting people know what America is all about.” While some questioned VOA’s funding, he responded: “Every dollar that we give to VOA comes back to us with hundreds of millions of dollars. Hundreds of millions of dollars with goodwill for America and dollars of good faith in what America is and what it stands for. And I can think of nothing more important as the work that VOA does.” Rep. Engel’s warning feels even more urgent today, at a time when VOA, the nation’s most effective instrument of soft power, has dangerously been dismantled. May he rest in peace. insidevoa.com/a/1657831.html…

The most effective and strategic way for the United States to confront the intensifying wave of disinformation, laid bare once again by The New York Times, is to immediately and fully restore Voice of America operations and provide the funding necessary for it to fulfill its mission. The dismantling that began a year ago has severely undermined U.S. national interests, eroded global credibility, and weakened America’s ability to counter malign influences at a time when adversaries are flooding the information space with distortion and falsehoods. VOA, protected by a Congressionally mandated firewall that guarantees its editorial independence, remains the most powerful antidote to disinformation, delivering fact based news and information in 49 languages to audiences who trust and rely on it. Rebuilding that capacity requires allowing its legitimate director, the seasoned journalist Michael Abramowitz, to return and lead the institution he was appointed to steward; bringing back the journalists and contractors who were removed; and eliminating self imposed restrictions on hiring highly qualified reporters in the very regions where disinformation is most aggressively deployed. The war in Iran and its global repercussions have clearly demonstrated that restoring VOA is essential to U.S. national interests. Through truthful, credible, fact based reporting that has long defined its work, VOA can effectively engage global audiences, counter disinformation, and uphold the trust and credibility that underpin America’s influence and leadership. Trump Officials Try to Fight Foreign Disinformation They Once Dismissed nytimes.com/2026/04/01/bus… via @NYTimes

NEW: A fresh lawsuit from veteran Voice of America journalists alleges @KariLake put propaganda on the network's broadcasts. My story for NPR: npr.org/2026/03/23/nx-…

In rebuke to @KariLake, US judge orders 1,000 Voice of America staffers back to work My story for NPR: npr.org/2026/03/17/nx-…

@kaedotcom I did the same two weeks ago. Really sad!

@EBiberaj x.com/kaedotcom/stat…

One year ago today, March 15, 2025, the Voice of America was silenced — an act that dimmed one of the United States’ most enduring instruments of soft power, global credibility, and democratic outreach. In the year since, the consequences have only grown clearer: America’s global voice has weakened, its strategic interests have suffered, and its ability to reach key audiences has eroded. Restoring VOA — its mission, its editorial independence, and its ability to speak freely to the world — is an urgent matter of national interest, democratic integrity, and geopolitical necessity. A revitalized VOA would once again allow the United States to communicate directly with people living under censorship, to counter propaganda with fact‑based reporting, and to demonstrate through action, not just rhetoric, the values of a free press and an open society.

35th ANNIVERSARY OF THE REESTABLISHMENT OF U.S.-ALBANIA RELATIONS U.S. Secretary of State James Baker: "We are with you, you are with us!" Thirty five years ago – on March 15, 1991 – the United States and Albania resumed full diplomatic relations – after more than fifty years of non-recognition and only three months after the demise of the Albanian communist regime. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at a ceremony at the State Department by U.S. Assistant Secretary Raymond Seitz and Albania's Foreign Minister Muhamet Kapllani. The ceremony was also attended by the leaders of the opposition Democratic Party, Sali Berisha and Gramoz Pashko.

The Foreign Service Journal has posted an excerpt from my forthcoming piece on the strategic impact of VOA’s dismantling and the imperative of restoring a strong, editorially independent VOA as a core element of America’s engagement with the world. linkedin.com/posts/the-fore…

“Americans don’t always realize that a government-funded outlet can still have professional journalists who don’t produce propaganda,” says former CNN Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty. #SaveVOA @jillrussia youtube.com/shorts/DNXYjq4…

Let VOA Speak – America and the World Need a Trusted Voice On this 79th anniversary of VOA’s Russian Service, it is fitting to recall that VOA is one of America’s most effective channels for communicating directly with the Russian people. Since that first VOA broadcast to Russian audiences on February 17, 1947, the need for a credible and independent American voice has never been greater. Yet since March 15, 2025, VOA’s Russian Service, along with nearly all other VOA language services, has been silenced. This is precisely the moment when America can least afford such silence. Russia continues its brutal assault on Ukraine, and Putin’s authoritarian regime remains a potent adversary, challenging U.S. interests and values across every domain. VOA reached millions of Russians from Europe to the Pacific with comprehensive, fact‑based reporting, clear explanations of U.S. policy, and a perspective unavailable inside Russia’s tightly controlled information space. No other instrument of American soft power can match that combination of reach, credibility, and impact. Muting VOA has been welcomed in the Kremlin, but it has seriously damaged U.S. communication with a strategic audience. Congress has acknowledged the seriousness of this mistake by approving funding, however inadequate, to keep VOA alive. That action makes clear what should never have been in doubt: shutting down VOA was a profoundly shortsighted decision and a self‑inflicted blow to America’s national interests. As the head of USAGM, Madame Kari Lake now confronts the consequences of this decision. Real leadership requires recognizing when a policy is fundamentally flawed and correcting course. It is essential to immediately restore VOA broadcasts to strategic audiences such as Russia and Ukraine. But restoration alone is not sufficient. With nearly three decades of experience in journalism, Madame Lake is uniquely positioned to recognize a fundamental truth: the credibility of any news organization depends on its editorial independence and truthful reporting. For VOA to fulfill its mission, it must be guided by the principles that made it one of the world’s most respected international broadcasters, reaching hundreds of millions weekly: providing accurate and objective news and information, adhering to the highest journalistic standards, and maintaining a robust firewall that insulates journalists from political pressure or control. Only by upholding those principles can VOA advance America’s interests and project the democratic values that give our international broadcasts global credibility.

“When people listen to [VOA] they feel that they're listening to serious news—news that has been well researched,” says Christopher Hill, retired diplomat and foreign policy expert #SaveVOA @ambchrishill

Today marks the 84th anniversary of the Voice of America – an important moment to remember how this preeminent international broadcaster advanced U.S. national interests, projected America’s democratic values, and served hundreds of millions around the world with accurate, independent news and information. For generations, VOA carried truth across borders, countered propaganda, and gave audiences an unfiltered window into America’s democratic discourse and institutions. Its credibility was earned, not inherited, and it became one of the most effective instruments of American soft power. Yet at a time when the United States confronts formidable global challenges – Russia’s continuing aggression against Ukraine, democratic backsliding across Eurasia, China’s expanding malign influence operations, Iran’s repression, Venezuela’s turmoil, and persistent conflict and instability across the Middle East and Africa – America’s voice has been deliberately silenced. This is not simply a void; it is an open invitation for adversaries to shape narratives, distort facts, and dominate information spaces where VOA once provided clarity, context, and a trusted alternative. Reviving VOA is a strategic imperative. A nation that cannot communicate credibly forfeits influence to those who weaponize information. Congress has signaled its intent by approving renewed funding for VOA – insufficient, but a foundation on which to rebuild. What is needed now is leadership willing to recognize the damage done and restore an institution that has long and admirably served America’s policies and national interests. Those guiding U.S. international broadcasting today face a defining choice. The decision to dismantle VOA has weakened America’s reach, undermined its values, and diminished its ability to speak to global audiences with clarity and integrity. Reversing course would not only strengthen America’s voice – it would reaffirm the principles that have anchored VOA for more than eight decades: press freedom, rigorous journalistic standards, editorial independence, and truthful reporting. Restoring VOA is not merely a correction of a flawed policy. It is a reaffirmation of America’s commitment to openness, accountability, and the free flow of information. History will not remember who presided over its decline. It will remember who had the courage to restore it. America needs its voice back. And the world needs it even more.

A moment from VOA’s 70th anniversary -- a reminder that its mission of exceptional, independent journalism remains essential. insidevoa.com/a/1534346.html…

Rep. Michael McCaul’s strong defense of Voice of America and its vital mission is a model of principled statesmanship at a moment when U.S. international broadcasting is needed more than ever. His insistence that VOA and its sister networks remain fully resourced and empowered to deliver truthful reporting reflects a deep understanding of America’s global responsibilities. Other members of Congress, especially Republicans, should follow Rep. McCaul’s example of putting national interests, democratic values, and the free flow of information first. politico.com/newsletters/we…

This is genuinely encouraging news. Despite the enormous damage done to Voice of America since it went dark on March 15, 2025, this renewed congressional funding offers a real chance to salvage what was nearly lost. It is imperative that VOA resume its most essential broadcasting operations. America needs its VOICE, as does the world. The mission of the Voice of America – to provide accurate, independent, and comprehensive news to people in places where truth is censored or suppressed, promote America’s democratic values, and advance U.S. national interests – is more important than ever. Let us hope this budget is approved so that hundreds of dedicated journalists can return to their office and continue fulfilling VOA’s vital and noble mission. The reversal of the misguided policy of dismantling one of America’s most powerful soft power institutions will stand as a resounding reaffirmation of the nation’s commitment to the free flow of information and to the millions worldwide who still depend on VOA as a lifeline to truth. washingtonpost.com/business/2026/…

VOA’s MISSION: Too Important to Abandon Two years ago, only days before I retired from the Voice of America, I sent my colleagues a message wishing them Happy Holidays. Today, I write with a heavy heart. VOA, one of the greatest soft power assets our nation has ever built, is now in the process of being dismantled. Regrettably, this sober moment coincides with a season that should be marked by renewed confidence in the mission VOA served and the values that sustained it. I want to extend to all my colleagues in the Eurasia Division and across VOA my warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. You should be deeply proud of your service. Your work has mattered. It still matters. And the nation and audiences across the globe know it. While the immediate future might not bode well for VOA, there remains time to save and reform this institution rather than dismantle it. Thoughtful voices within the administration and Congress should recognize VOA’s enduring value and reconsider the current, misguided course. In this season of reflection, please accept my gratitude for your dedication, professionalism, and integrity. Whatever comes next, your service has promoted America’s national interests and touched millions around the world hungry for the truth. You have carried out VOA’s mission with honor and distinction – providing uncensored news and information, telling America’s story, and upholding the democratic values that define us. May the principles that have guided the Voice of America for more than eight decades continue to illuminate the path ahead.

AMERICA’S VOICE MATTERS. THE WORLD AWAITS ITS RESTORATION! Today marks the 76th anniversary of Voice of America’s Ukrainian Service. For decades, through the darkness of Soviet occupation and communist rule, Ukraine’s rebirth as an independent nation, and its ongoing struggle to build a democratic future, VOA was a trusted voice to the Ukrainian people – delivering uncensored news and information and providing a window on America. It projected America’s values, advanced U.S. strategic interests, and countered anti American propaganda and disinformation. Now, as Russia uses its power to crush a nation striving to live in peace, freedom, and dignity, America’s voice has gone silent. The dismantling of VOA has created a void at the very moment when America must be heard, and when Ukrainians – and other freedom seeking nations around the world – need truthful reporting from the United States. This silence has undermined U.S. national interests, diminished America’s soft power, and weakened the ability to communicate and defend U.S. foreign policy objectives in a region where information warfare is central to the conflict. Ukrainians need the type of content that VOA provides: fact based reporting, direct access to Washington’s voice and debates, and a trusted source of clarity amid disinformation. It is imperative that the Administration reverse the dismantling of VOA and restore its vital programming. And Congress should approve the funding necessary to keep VOA on the air – fully, robustly, and without delay. Restoring VOA is essential to America’s credibility and national interests. It is also a lifeline for all who believe in what America stands for and for the millions who still rely on truthful reporting.

Serbia është sot më afër Rusisë sesa ishte para se të bëhej shtet kandidat për anëtarësim. Si shtet kandidat sot nuk i përmbush kriteret bazike të Kopenhagës. Dhe, si shtet kandidat ka ruajtur dhe rritur rolin destabilizues ndaj shteteve fqinje. koha.net/veshtrime/sa-m…

“TEAR DOWN THE WALL” – “TURN ON THE VOICE” In 1987, President Ronald Reagan stood at the Brandenburg Gate and urged Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.” Two years later, the Berlin Wall fell, symbolizing the collapse of communism and the triumph of democracy. On this 36th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Voice of America, which played a vital role in that victory, remains silent. Just as the Berlin Wall was torn down, The Voice must be turned ON! For over eight decades, VOA has served as one of America’s most effective tools of soft power: advancing America’s interests, promoting democracy, countering authoritarian propaganda, and amplifying our values of freedom and human rights. Yet today, VOA broadcasts have been suspended and the organization is being dismantled, weakening America’s voice at the very moment it is most needed. VOA has always been a beacon of hope for those living under oppression, a lifeline of truth in the face of lies, and a reminder that freedom is possible. Preserving VOA ensures America continues to shine as a champion of democracy, human dignity, and liberty. To silence VOA is to dim that beacon. To Turn ON The Voice is to keep America’s light burning for all who yearn for freedom and democracy.