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OSCE urges better media access for small political parties in Albania
TIRANA 14 September 2000
TIRANA, 14 September - The OSCE Presence in Albania Press and Public Information Office has been receiving a number of complaints by junior parties of different political camps, regarding TV coverage reserved to their electoral initiatives. According to these complaints, public and private electronic media is devoting very limited airtime, if any, to minor parties' activities.
The OSCE notes that in some cases, these complaints appear to be founded and supported by data of the ongoing scientific monitoring of the media.
The OSCE would like to stress, once again, that the Albanian Electoral Code, the Law on Electronic Media and the Kujtesë of the National Council of Radio and Television (KKRT), provide for "fair, impartial and unbiased" journalistic coverage of news and electoral campaigns. Propaganda, as such, is forbidden, and TV stations must not act as political parties' loudspeakers.
The current polarization of the Albanian political spectrum should not be taken by the stations as justification for discriminating against single parties or candidates and prejudicing their ability to convey their message, through the media, to the electorate. Although major parties are indeed better equipped to organize initiatives, ease the media's logistic problems and catalyze public attention, this should not influence the necessary selection criteria and the need for editors to exercise their journalistic responsibility. Time and attention should be allocated, in a reasonable and fair way, to all the players.
The OSCE Press and Public Information Office wishes, once again, to launch an appeal to all TV stations to exercise the maximum fairness and sense of responsibility. It also would like to remind all electoral subjects of the importance attributed by the Law to the National Council of Radio and Television, whose duty it is to guarantee an honest electoral competion in the media.
For information, contact Press and Public Information, Rruga Donika Kastrioti, Villa 6, Tirana, Albania, http: www.osce.org/albania/index.htm, [email protected], telephone: ++355 42 35993 ext. 153, 123, 132; Telefax: ++355 42 35994 / 40001
The OSCE notes that in some cases, these complaints appear to be founded and supported by data of the ongoing scientific monitoring of the media.
The OSCE would like to stress, once again, that the Albanian Electoral Code, the Law on Electronic Media and the Kujtesë of the National Council of Radio and Television (KKRT), provide for "fair, impartial and unbiased" journalistic coverage of news and electoral campaigns. Propaganda, as such, is forbidden, and TV stations must not act as political parties' loudspeakers.
The current polarization of the Albanian political spectrum should not be taken by the stations as justification for discriminating against single parties or candidates and prejudicing their ability to convey their message, through the media, to the electorate. Although major parties are indeed better equipped to organize initiatives, ease the media's logistic problems and catalyze public attention, this should not influence the necessary selection criteria and the need for editors to exercise their journalistic responsibility. Time and attention should be allocated, in a reasonable and fair way, to all the players.
The OSCE Press and Public Information Office wishes, once again, to launch an appeal to all TV stations to exercise the maximum fairness and sense of responsibility. It also would like to remind all electoral subjects of the importance attributed by the Law to the National Council of Radio and Television, whose duty it is to guarantee an honest electoral competion in the media.
For information, contact Press and Public Information, Rruga Donika Kastrioti, Villa 6, Tirana, Albania, http: www.osce.org/albania/index.htm, [email protected], telephone: ++355 42 35993 ext. 153, 123, 132; Telefax: ++355 42 35994 / 40001