The Albanian Media Council views with deep concern the idea of setting up a Parliamentary Commission for Disinformation.

First, the Commission does not have a clear and focused object of its investigation, which leaves room for abuses to the detriment of the media.

Secondly, it is incomprehensible how the Albanian Parliament, which has not taken any steps and has not shown any will to improve the situation of media information, is worried about the opposite, that of disinformation.

Thirdly, a Commission that has not been set up yet has determined the duration of its work (1 year) about a subject that it does not know yet, which makes room for serious doubts that the objective of its work will be the control of the media during this period and not disinformation.

Fourthly, a Commission set up NOT to investigate something that "happened" but to probe something that "will happen" within a year since its establishment, creates strong suspicions that it can be used to violate the freedom of media, under the guise of disinformation investigations.

Fifth, Albania has much bigger problems that affect the freedom of the media, and that need urgent intervention, such as the occult connections of politicians, parties, and government people with the media owners; lack of transparency of state funds that go to the media; non-application of the law on the right to information, etc. Disinformation, in terms of its importance to the Albanian public, can be resolved after these major problems are resolved.

Sixth, any action in the field of media requires a non-partisan approach.

Seventh, any action in the field of media requires a non-political and extra-political approach.

Eighth, any action in the field of media requires the kind of impartiality that the team of this commission - which voted for the infamous anti-defamation package and was ready to vote for it for the second time - obviously does NOT possess.

Ninth, disinformation in Albania appears mainly in the form of propaganda, which comes overwhelmingly from the Government, the Municipality of Tirana as well as from political parties, which makes it impossible for this Commission to honestly investigate itself, its party, or the government.

Tenth, anyone who would conduct such a delicate investigation that could violate the freedom of information must enjoy reputation and personal integrity, which the Albanian political class lost a long time ago.

The Albanian Media Council urges the Albanian Parliament not to approve the establishment of this commission - at least not in this form - and warns it will inform international partners about this act that creates a risk of replacing the anti-defamation package with an anti-defamation parliamentary commission.