1/3/2002
It's 6.30 am. This is Kabul. 'Good Morning Afghanistan'

Robin Williams may not have joined the show but "Good Morning Afghanistan!" went on air for the first time on schedule on Monday 25 February. The daily breakfast radio show focuses on factual information, but will also provide entertainment and education for up to four-fifths of the Afghan population. The initiative is being funded by the European Commission but has relied on generous donations of equipment from a number of European broadcasters.

Launched in double quick time - the initial contracts with the NGO Baltic Media Centre (BMC) were signed barely two months ago - the show is one of a number of 'quick-impact support' initiatives. Preparations then started immediately to establish a partnership with Radio Afghanistan to re-equip the old Kabul Radio building with the transmission and recording equipment supplied by Denmark Radio, Radio Borders, Radio Forth, Radio Bornholm, TV 2 Bornholm and BMC itself.

An Afghan team of around twenty young journalists, representative of the population, has been selected. Broadcasts will be in both Pashtu and Dari, the commonest languages in Afghanistan.

The project will not only to provide the Afghan population with objective information and the Afghan government with a national voice but it will also "bring back some happiness in the lives of young Afghans," says the Afghan Culture Ministry.