PARTY TAPES Union of Journalists: This is censorship, we will protest MEDIA AGAINST THE CEC “WE ARE NOT POLITICS’ SERVANTS” Forum/Media leaders and journalists’ associations react to the decision of the Central Election Commission on broadcasting campaign footage sent by political parties ► Pages 4-5

ALERT Smuggling: contaminated meat from Venezuela in Albania The label prevents the goods from leaving the South American country. It enters illegally through Durrës TIRANA ESMERALDA KETA For several months, at the port of Durrës, hundreds of tons of beef coming from Venezuela have been entering by smuggling... ► Page 15

BY ANILA BASHA Journalists! They are “raping our profession” This year’s election campaign is pulling the print, broadcast and online media in Albania into a stream that is neither logical nor professional. Just one day earlier the Central Election Commission forced private television stations (since the public one is not even in question) to accept the edited tapes prepared at party headquarters. A completely unprofessional practice, against every journalistic rule, against the principles of informing and educating the public. In short, Albanian citizens, wherever they turn the channel on their television, must listen to what Rama, Berisha or Meta tells them, and not to what journalists or editors actually consider important in a news item. Political parties feel comfortable with such an order, which is in complete contradiction with the principle of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and journalists’ freedom in writing and reporting the news. Meanwhile, journalists should have raised an outcry over this violation of their profession. Anyone with a journalism degree in their pocket should feel ashamed to take ready-made material and broadcast it as if it were an official notice from the offices of... ► continued on page 19

Task force for the elections, there are pressures on voters ► Page 3

With America we have intensive relations ► Page 8

Bad loans reach 1 billion euros ► Page 14

► Page 6 Celibashi: PS protocol for the voting process

► Page 11 IN THE PHOTO: Two images from the hotel construction project in the museum center of Gjirokastër The hotel project in Gjirokastër is revealed Architect Luçjano Bojaxhi: I will speak after 23 June

► Page 19 DON’T END UP IN THE HOSPITAL! BY ARDIANA ÇAPI

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