The issue of national identity is taken seriously by Balkan people – including the least serious among them.
CPJ Condemns Albanian Journalist Attack
| 05 November 2009 |The non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting press freedom world wide cited ''Balkan Insight's'' reporting on the attack, saying the assault was witnessed by bar patrons, including two colleagues who were sitting with the editor.
It noted that ''Balkan Insight'' reported that local businessman Rezart Taci and his four bodyguards beat the journalist and then left the bar.
Baze lost consciousness after the attack and was hospitalized overnight. He was released Tuesday morning.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sali Berisha condemned the attack and called on police to bring the assailants to justice. The Committee to Protect Journalists cited Balkan Insight's Albania editor Besar Likmeta saying police announced that they had detained two suspects.
“We welcome Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s condemnation of this brazen attack on our colleague Mero Baze,” said the Committee's Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. “We trust the police will heed his call to bring the attackers to justice. The authorities need to send a clear signal that violence against reporters will not be tolerated.”
