Interview with Vladimir Borachock, Ex-worker of Radio Liberty de Pals

Just kidding: Full translated using Google translator due to lack of time.

Original in Castillian: Report by Isaac Issy 04/17/2019

On April 9, Vlad turned 95 and the Ukrainian interpreter continues to do his daily routine on a bicycle and playing his characteristic violin. Father of three children and with five grandchildren, Vladimir resides on the Costa Brava and fondly remembers his golden years at the Station. We met at the ‘My Victorian’ store in Palamós, owned by the granddaughter of one of Vlad's great friends in the Pals beach reissue, Ferenc Mányik.

Mr Vladimir, delighted to greet you and thank you for accepting the interview for Pals Radio Station Museum. Tell me, how did you get to Spain and how did you find Radio Liberty work?

The pleasure is mine (smiles along with a strong handshake). Well, I came to Spain in 1951. In 1944, I told my mother that I was leaving home for three days to take a course, but seeing the situation in my country I could not return and then I went to Germany. While there, there were many Ukrainians and they all chose to go to the United States, but I decided to finish my studies in Spain. I could go to America, but when I was in Munich the possibility arose to come to Spain to finish my career in Romance. Then, in Madrid I saw the offer from Radio Liberty that they were looking for translators for their broadcasting center in Spain. They summoned me to a hotel and after a test they selected me. It was the beginning of my story with the Pals station.

In what year you began and ended at the Station.

I was there from 1961 to 1989. It so happens that the same day the Iron Curtain fell was my retirement.

His role at the Station was that of an interpreter.

Yes, I translated 6 languages. The translations were for the Spanish government to know everything that was broadcast, especially if it was talking about Spain, of course. All the programs were recorded on tape from Munich in 17 languages. In the Ampex room in Pals there were the players for the tapes. Sometimes the tapes were recorded over the phone in Barcelona, we also had a recording studio in case the tapes didn't arrive on time with the schedule. In recent times, everything was done via satellite. We broadcast programs on culture, music, poetry, there was a lot of wonderful content.

The broadcasts to the USSR were distributed by several Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty stations from the western bloc: Raret (Portugal), Lampertheim, Biblis and Holzkirchen (Germany) and Pals (Spain), which was the most 'important' and 'powerful' when broadcasting over Moscow.

Yes sir, that's right! From Pals we broadcast with more than a million watts coming out of the transmitters, something that no one ever achieved in the world. The broadcast fell with great force on Moscow and it was impossible to interfere with it, millions of people listened to us, for that we had several 250 kilowatt transmitters, that was technically extraordinary.

Vlad, when the Station was born it was called AMCOMLIB. It was later renamed Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty as we all know it and ended its days under the acronym IBB / VOA (International Broadcasting Office - Voice of America). In his opinion, how was that evolution?

Europe was economically dependent on the United States at the time, and to transmit a message of liberation to the oppressed Eastern countries, they decided to create the name Radio Free Europe as a hopeful message addressed to all those peoples.

How did you keep in touch with your family from Spain?

It was very difficult at the time, but I tell you that my brothers listened to Radio Liberty de Pals hidden in the forests of our city in Ukraine. It took me 48 years to return to my country since that day I told my mother that I was leaving for three days.

It has always been said that Americans paid very well, that working in Pals was ensuring a good retirement ...

There were socially very good living conditions. In my specific case, I had ‘half a good salary’, I translated six languages. The technicians did earn more money. But the most important thing for me was that we spread the message of hope to the people who were in the USSR.

Do you think Radio Free Europe was a good tool for the people of the countries of the former Soviet Union?

Of course. The Pals Radio Station helped bring down the Berlin Wall. I repeat, the most important thing for those of us who were there was that our messages arrived telling the truth, if there was a failure anywhere in the world we had to tell it even if it hurt. A universal duty was fulfilled, we gave hope to the suffering peoples. Radio Liberty de Pals was the one who kept Gorbachev informed in 1991 during the retention of him in Crimea when the Communists attempted the coup.

In short, what has the Pals Station meant to you in your life?

A prodigy of realized illusions and of destiny where I have experienced the freedom to share my life with those I have loved. In Pals I have enjoyed and been very happy, it has been like a dream come true.

What memory do you have of your colleagues?

Very good, even when we meet, we hug and remember moments. Radio Liberty de Pals was a family, there was a lot of coexistence among all the companions, there we had meals and whatever we needed 24 hours a day. There were three shifts and we never lacked for anything, we helped each other, whether they were transmitters or kitchen partners, we also had a library, we did activities during Christmas, we were a big family.

In your opinion, why was the Pals station closed? Some say it was for technical reasons, others for political reasons ...

Yes, for political reasons. Since Franco died, the station's closure has always been rumored, we even broadcast for a few years with the concession of the land already expired until it was renewed, but the reality is that it was open until one day the Americans decided to close it overnight. the morning. For me this decision was a mistake.

March 22, 2006, the day of the demolition of the antenna field. How do you remember it?

Yes, I remember perfectly, those antennas were a treasure, all of us who were there cried, it was a very sad day, there are no words. I played my violin in the antenna field to say goodbye a few days before the demolition, it was very exciting. These antennas should have been kept for tourists and for studies, they were a treasure (Vlad gets excited, touches his chest and starts to cry remembering that moment).

Do you still long for your days at Playa de Pals?

Yes, a lot. For me, the Pals Beach Station is a world star in the events of the modern era.

Should the Station have been preserved to turn it into a Museum?

Totally. They should have preserved everything that was there, it was the hope for millions of people during the years of the Cold War. It is inexplicable how this magical place has been destroyed. I would like a space to be dedicated to it in the future so that the work we did there would not be forgotten.

Thank you very much for the interview and you continue to be so well for many more years.

I was very excited about this pleasant time, I congratulate you for all the great work you do with the virtual museum of Radio Liberty in Pals and for making its wonderful story known, I send a greeting to all the followers. Keep up the good work (We hug each other with another strong handshake and say goodbye).