Manoucherhr Tahsili Zonoozi

Director General Mesopotamia TV

Reception to Celebrate the Opening of the Channel June 17, 2000

I would like to begin by saying welcome to our esteemed guests and to all of my colleagues, who are attending this reception to celebrate the opening of Mesopotamia TV, who come, I am certain, in the hope of a bright and successful future for our channel.

Our channel is based on the need to preserve the Kurdish identity. To ensure education and information distribution in the Kurdish language; also, to enable a framework for business growth, within the Kurdish communities throughout the many countries which receive our transmissions.

This strength and growth in communications will be centred in Denmark, under our present broadcasting licence. For this opportunity we are grateful. We have to make use of the opportunities given by internationalization, not least regarding information

technology and communications as tools for the preservation of the Kurdish Identity and the development of Kurdish business opportunities.

Therefore, I am very happy to officially open Mesopotamia TV. A channel that represents an innovation in the development of Danish/Kurdish communications and business relations, the most important challenge for the economy of the Kurdishpeople in the future is innovation. We have to assure growth and innovation in all sectors of the Kurdish community both within Kurdistan and throughout the Diaspora.

The information technology and satellite communications business and the new digital media are very important in this connection. They will be strategically important parts of Kurdish life in the future. The technical aspects give the viewers an enormous freedom to choose when and where to watch the programmes. However, we will of course endeavor to enable greater access via cable and the internet in the foreseeable future.

Flexibility and efficiency, will be the key elements in communications channels to Kurdish viewers of the future. These will be our aims to provide education and communications and freedom of speech in a flexible and efficient way using the new technologies. I would like to finish by again thanking everyone for attending Anker Jorgensen, Lord Dholakia, Feleknaz Uca, and all our distinguished guests, all our fellow broadcasters, journalists and colleagues for celebrating this official opening of Mesopotamia TV. I would like to convey my best wishes to everyone present and declare Mesopotamia TV officially open. I would like to propose a toast to Mesopotamia TV, the Kurdish people and our Danish hosts.