Albania Europe Media News Regional
U.S. Assistance Programs in Europe: An Assessment
The Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe is a multilateral political initiative to encourage and strengthen cooperation among the countries of Southeast Europe (SEE) and to streamline efforts to assist them in preparing for Euro-Atlantic integration. The Stability Pact is based on the principle that conflict prevention and peace building can be successful only if three key sectors are addressed: (I) promotion of sustainable democratic systems, (II) promotion of economic and social well-being, and (III) creation of a secure environment. The Stability Pact has dedicated three "Working Tables" to correspond to these three sectors. With relatively little U.S. funding (approximately $15 million through FY 2003), the U.S. has been able to influence the development and implementation of initiatives funded at an overall level of approximately $3 billion in such areas as redirecting the focus of the Investment Compact Initiative, guiding fundamental principles for the establishment of an ind ... [Read More]
Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Albania
The Constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press, and the media was active and largely unrestrained; however, there were serious, fundamental problems with the use of the media for political purposes. Political interference in the media occurred less frequently than in previous years. Publishers and newspaper owners continued to edit news stories to serve their own political and economic interests and sometimes to block ones that ran counter to those interests. Journalists continued to practice self-censorship. There was little transparency in the financing of media outlets. ... [Read More]
Freedom Paper No. 1: Free & Independent Media
The line between a proper complaint about the content of anewspaper or television program and improper pressure onpublishers and broadcasters is a fine one. The ability toidentify this line is crucial, and since it cannot be defined bylaw, it can probably be learned only by experience. There aremany ways in which groups within a society can influence themedia and in which those in the media can learn to be moreresponsive to public concerns. For example, media organizationscan accept letters to the editor. In addition, a number ofnewspapers (and occasionally television stations) in the UnitedStates, Canada, Italy, Sweden, Brazil, and elsewhere have hiredombudsmen to make their organizations more accountable to thepublic. Sometimes called "reader advocates," ombudsmeninvestigate complaints from readers and news sources aboutaccuracy and fairness, commonly publishing the results of theirresearch. Their writings are generally free from internaleditorial review, allowing them to act a ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
AFN available on the Ridge as well as by private license. TVSH broadcasts in Albanian. Shows continue to run heavily toward local events, plus sports, musical entertainment, locally produced plays, educational broadcasts, movies, and a few old American TV shows (dubbed in Albanian or Italian). Local and international news is broadcast several times daily. There are now 50 local independent TV stations that also broadcast in Albanian. Italian, French, and German stations as well as EuroNews, EuroSport, and NBCEurope can be received in Tirana. Newspapers, Magazines, and Technical JournalsLast Updated: 9/30/2003 10:32 AM A continually expanding selection of Western newspapers and magazines is available in Albania. For example, The International ... [Read More]
IV. Country Narratives: Europe and Eurasia
Macedonia is a country of transit and destination for women and children trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, notably Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria. Some foreign victims are trafficked through Macedonia to Albania, Serbia and Montenegro (including Kosovo) and Western Europe. Some internal trafficking was discovered, as were cases of Macedonian women trafficked regionally and to Western Europe for sexual exploitation. ... [Read More]
Albania
The total daily circulation of all newspapers was estimated at 50,000 in 2000, but during the year continued to fall. Political parties, trade unions, and various societies and groups publish their own newspapers or magazines. The opposition media is active, but is constrained by limited professionalism and lack of finances. An estimated 200 publications were available, including daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and pamphlets. At least 2 newspapers were published in Greek in the south of Albania, and 15 Greek papers and magazines were distributed throughout the south. The print media made some improvements during the year; for example, internationally funded training has had an impact in improving professionalism, and private advertising revenues have increased significantly. However, the print media continued to face formidable obstacles, including a poor distribution network, high production costs, low circulation, limited editorial standards, and low credibility. ... [Read More]
Europe and Eurasia
The United States also supports free and independent media in Ukraine by providing a wide range of support to Ukrainian journalists, media organizations and other NGOs, with the aim of improving the financial sustainability of outlets and supporting the production of balanced news. Projects focus on improving the legal, administrative and fiscal environment for Ukrainian media, expanding Internet use, improving professional journalist standards, providing legal assistance and increasing the operating capacity of independent media. Sixty-three percent of the journalists who received legal assistance under these programs won their cases. Training for journalists and technical assistance to 16 media outlets helped improve media quality and quantity. Consequently, fledgling media associations have emerged as strong free speech advocates. ... [Read More]
Albania
Police separated men from women in pretrial detention centers and prisons which, as of July, were under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice. Pretrial detainees were not separated from convicted prisoners due to overcrowding.The country has no juvenile justice system, and children's cases frequently were presented to judges who had not received any education in juvenile justice. In cooperation with international donors, Albania's Magistrate's School attempted to address this problem by offering continuing legal education courses in the area of juvenile justice for judges. The Ministry of Justice reported that a total of 17 minors were serving prison sentences: 6 in pretrial detention centers and 11 in Vaqarr--the only prison in the country that has a special wing for juveniles. The Children's Human Rights Center (CRCA) noted that, while juveniles at Vaqarr were held in a separate wing of the prison, they mixed with adult prisoners ... [Read More]
Europe and Eurasia
Freedom of media was also a serious concern for the United States in its effort to promote democracy in Kazakhstan. For example, the United States strongly advocated for the rejection of a flawed media law that would have impeded freedom of speech, in particular campaign reporting, and regularly raised concern over a series of legal actions aimed at independent media. After much public debate and criticism of the media law, President Nazarbayev vetoed the legislation. The American Bar Association’s Central European and Eurasia Law Initiative (ABA/CEELI), a U.S. implementing partner, began a new media defense project that provided an analysis of the law’s shortcomings. The project also provided training to lawyers defending journalists and media outlets in court. United States advocacy efforts were complemented by several U.S.-funded programs to expand freedom of the media. The United States funded the NGO Internews to conduct programs to strengthen independent media through training an ... [Read More]
Albania
The Law on Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms provides for freedom of speech and of the press, and the media was active and unrestrained; however, there were serious, fundamental problems with the use of the media for political purposes. Libel carries criminal sentences. The punishment for libel varies from a fine to 2 years' imprisonment. Political interference in the media remained a problem. Publishers and newspaper owners often edited news stories to serve their own political and economic interests. Daily circulation of all newspapers was estimated at 76,500. Political parties, trade unions, and various societies and groups published their own newspapers or magazines. The opposition media was active, but was constrained by limited professionalism and lack of finances. An estimated 200 publications were available, including daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and pamphlets. At least 2 newspapers were published in ... [Read More]
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