Albania

[AL] Head of the Council of the Public Radio and Television Resigns

IRIS 2006-5:1/36

Hamdi Jupe

Albanian Media Monitoring Center

The head of the Council of Albanian Public Radio Television ( Këshilli Drejtues i Radiotelevizionit Publik Shqiptar ) resigned on 16 March 2006. In his statement thereto he gave as reason that he felt disappointed about his attempts to transform the Albanian Radio Television into a public institution and to separate it from the political dependence alleged.

As an example, he mentioned that eight out of fifteen members of the Council had asked, one month ago, for the resignation of the General Director of Public Radio and Television. But they had failed because the Director was supported by the leaders of the two biggest political parties.

The Government of Albania presented two months ago in the Parliament some amendments on the Law “For public and private radio and television in the Republic of Albania” (see IRIS 2006-3: 9). According to these amendments the mandate of the members of the Council of the Radio and Television will be revoked before the regular end of the term.