Notes of nostalgia and promises to return in the future, in another position, and a strong message for political rotation, as a healthy element of democracy. This was the message of the Albanian President, in his last meeting with the press.
The Albanian President, Bamir Topi, held the traditional holiday
reception with the press with media directors, journalists, analysts,
scholars, administrators, and other representatives of the written and
electronic press in Albania.
“I believe that in the ritual of these meetings, this one is last for me as President. Someone else will be holding this position in the next year. “I have always encouraged these natural rotations, especially in a society like ours, a country that comes after a very difficult transition. On the other hand, our country has had a strong dynamic development. This has followed the Albanian political and institutional life, and also that of the media. I want to thank you for the civil communication that we have had. I want to thank you for this precious mission that you have led”, Topi declared.
The President declared that the media should be itself, with more independence, more professionalism and that what the politics doesn’t say, due to communication elegance and diplomatic language, while the common public simply sees it.
The President appealed the media to leave aside the political militancy. The President also mentioned the public television, in a more critical tone:
“People want today a truly independent media, starting from the institution that has it as a constitutional obligation, the Albanian Public Radio Television. It is the first time that I take this fact in consideration, and will not make any critic, because in this climate we must greet each other. But we can also say things that could serve to the next year. This television is a very strong traditional institution, on the name point of view, but also for the infrastructure, the journalists that I greet today. But it must become more credible for the public. It is a constitutional obligation, but on the other hand, it must show that it is the television of all Albanians, regardless their political orientations and the dissatisfactions they might have for someone. This television should be a point of reference for the others”, the President declared.
A special thanking, although not openly said, was the media coverage of the January 21st protest, when four people were killed, an event for which the Prime Minister Sali Berisha called the President “a boulevard thug”.
“I want to greet all journalists who have covered the news that have been very intensive in Albania, especially during 2011. They have followed them with great courage, because they have entered in areas where people were being shot with bullets. The journalists deserve to be evaluated and promoted. I encourage all of you for your mission”, Topi declared.
After the speech, the Topi made photos with all present journalists who wanted a final photo with him a as President.
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