TIRANA, May 18 – Swiss Ambassador to Albania Ruth Huber spoke at a media freedom conference with local and international participants. She said free media represents a key pillar of democracy and institutional strengthening. In this context, she described the conference as an important regional forum for dialogue among journalists and media professionals. She added that such platforms are increasingly important amid rising challenges to media freedom and journalist safety.
According to her, international reports show that journalism in Southeast Europe operates in a difficult environment. She pointed to economic pressure, political capture and threats against journalists. Meanwhile, she said these challenges extend beyond the region and noted that freedom of expression has declined globally over the past 25 years. She stressed that free media forms the foundation of democracy. She also said it strengthens public trust in institutions, supports accountability and contributes to the fight against corruption.
Turning to Switzerland, she highlighted its system of direct democracy and four official languages. She said public media plays a central role in informing citizens and strengthening social cohesion. She also said Switzerland supports media projects in the Western Balkans. She said these initiatives aim to strengthen media actors and improve conditions for independent journalism and reliable information. She added that the OSCE also plays an important role in this context, supporting member states in meeting commitments on freedom and safety of journalists through its field operations.
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