TIRANA, Jan 5 /ATA/ – Lulzim Basha, leader of the Euro-Atlantic Democrats, commemorated Sunday the 34th anniversary of the newspaper Rilindja Demokratika, or Democratic Revival, the first opposition newspaper to go to press in the post-Communist Albania in 1991, stating that the media freedom progress in the country was being undermined by political pressure and lack of security.
Basha took to the social media to praise courage of journalists and intellectuals as harbingers of the freedom of speech and expression in Albania, by stepping into a new era of democracy and independent press.
“Today, January 5, marks 34 years since the newspaper Rilindja Demokratike lead the way to freedom of speech in Albania, opening a new chapter for democracy and independent press. The courage of then journalists and intellectuals remains an inspiration to all those who still believe today that free media is the pillar of a democratic society,” Basha wrote.
In his message, Basha voiced concern over the challenges facing media freedom in the country, threats against journalists, self-censorship, and the lack of transparency from institutions.
“Meanwhile, media freedom and pluralism in our country are being threatened by the lack of security for journalists, threats to editorial independence, political and economic pressure, and self-censorship. But, there can be no functional democracy and sustainable development without independent press,” Basha stated.
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