Vienna, 14/11/2001
Ilir Meta
Prime Minister
Tirana
Albania
CC:
Ilir Gjoni
Minister of Public Order, Albania
Your Excellency,
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South Eastern Europe, and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), strongly condemns the violent attack on Nikolle Lesi, publisher of the independent Albanian newspaper, Koha Jone.
According to SEEMO’s sources, on 8 November, Lesi was assaulted in Tirana by an unidentified assailant, who physically assaulted the publisher and threatened him with a gun. We understand that the attack was related to articles published in Koha Jone.
SEEMO urges Your Excellency to do everything in your power to bring to justice those responsible for this incident. We also respectfully remind you that it is the duty of the state to provide an environment in which media professionals are able to carry out their duties without fear of attack. We ask you to ensure the safety of all journalists working in Albania.
Yours sincerely,
Oliver Vujovic
Secretary General