OSCE Representative makes plea for Albania’s digital era adjustments

TIRANA, Jan. 31- Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, in a talk to Albanian parliamentarians this week urged them to consider all the changes of the digital era when they draft respective legislation. Haraszti emphasized that they have to ensure that media regulation takes into account the abundance of channels that digital television transmission makes possible. Haraszti told members of the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Media of the Parliament that despite the progress made in the field of media freedom but some challenges remain. “Albania has shown a strong political will to shape media laws in accordance with international standards. Where regulation is necessary, I call on you to do it in the least intrusive manner. The results will not only benefit the press, but also the voters and politicians,” he added during the Vienna study visits of the deputies. The two-day study visit was organized by Haraszti’s office and the OSCE Presence in Albania and included discussions on media freedom, defamation, libel, access to information, media self-regulation and the need to ensure sufficient separation between media and authorities. Haraszti also brought attention to consider proposed changes to anti-defamation provisions and amendments to the electronic media law as outlined in legal reviews commissioned by his office. The OSCE, both through the Office of the Representative and the Presence in Albania, is ready to assist Albanian parliamentarians in developing media legislation.