(VOA photo - L. Lindberg)

President Bush has marked the 60th anniversary of the Voice of America with an address praising VOA for broadcasting the truth to its global audience.

Speaking at VOA headquarters in Washington Monday, Mr. Bush said America's international radio is vital in this new time of conflict. He said VOA still delivers a message of freedom feared by tyrants, as it has since the first VOA broadcast in the early days of World War II.

VOA began broadcasting in February, 1942, less than three months after the United States was thrust into World War Two by the attack on Pearl Harbor. Mr. Bush said VOA has already played a role in helping rebuild Afghanistan by increasing broadcasts to the region since the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Mr. Bush also said VOA will continue use new technologies to get its message to the world. Today, VOA programs, on radio, television and the Internet, reach over 90 million people each week. All or part of Monday's presidential message will be translated into 52 foreign languages for VOA broadcast and publication on the Internet.

VOA's broadcasting charter guarantees journalistic independence. The charter is a 1976 federal law that requires VOA to broadcast news that is accurate, balanced and comprehensive.

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