By: Dritan Tabaku
Due to a four-week strike, the programs of Radio France International (RFI) in French and in many other foreign languages are out of reach. Also, the program in the Albanian language is not anymore broadcasted under these frequencies.
Four syndicates and RFI employees are going on an indefinite strike blocking all broadcasts as a sign of the protest against the Directory’s decision that foresees to dismiss 206 persons and to stop transmitting programs in six foreign languages: in German, Albanian, Serbo-Croatian, Polish, Turkish and Laotian.
The RFI Directory justifies its act on the framework of a necessary internal reformation, conditioned as well by the following facts: changes in the world’s geopolitical situation, economic cost aspect, and a study that reflects the decrease in the audience listening to these programs.
The editorial departments at risk put forward their own arguments contradicting these claims:
– In the geopolitical aspect, the programs in Albanian or Serbo-Croatian are extremely important especially for the current situation in the Region. According to international analysts, there is no total stability in all aspects where the Balkan Region is concerned. “Interethnic” or “resentments” are still prevalent. One should not forget that only 10 years ago there was war in this part of Europe (by plane, only 3 hours from Paris).
– Regarding the economic factor, one can argue that a staff made up of five journalists cannot financially overload the RFI economy.
No additional taxes are paid for the programs in the Albanian language. In fact, these programs pass on to RFI frequencies in the French language. Thus, out of 24 hours of French broadcasting only one hour is occupied by the Albanian program.
– The argument of low listener ship seems to be irrelevant, as it is based on an outdated study carried out in 2003.
For several years, the RFI program in Albanian has also been broadcast by the second channel of Radio Tirana, which covers a major part of Albanian territory and the area around. This implies an audience increase of the RFI Albanian programs. Closing the Albanian programs will mark the end of the only information source in Albanian transmitted in Kosovo and Albania by the Francophone community.
Furthermore, the famous RFI carries to Kosovo, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro etc. the same symbolic meaning of the worldwide communication company. France is one of the first countries in the world that recognized the new state of Kosovo. Owing to the efficient commitment of Mr. Bernard Kouchner, heading the UN administration office in Kosovo, and with the strong support of the international media, the new ideas of peaceful coexistence among all the communities in Kosovo became clearer. The French contribution opened to Kosovo a new perspective of development and integration in the European family. For this reason, it is very important to continue broadcasting French voice in the Albanian language.
The RFI programs in Albanian, as well as those of BBC, Deutsche Welle, Voice of America or of Free Europe, means for the Albanian speaking audience an essential source of information daily about European current issues and its various attitudes presented in the international arena.
