Ervin Baku Responds:
“OFFICIAL & PUBLIC RESPONSE
Dear friends, acquaintances, followers, and readers of the virtual space,
I did not anticipate that my appearance on Euronews Albania, wearing a shirt with the identifying marks and symbol of Serbia, would be perceived as a provocation against the national public opinion. Nor did I expect it to lead to an unrelenting storm of insults, threats, denigrations, blackmail, and extreme anti-national stigmatizations. This storm is fueled by verbal abuse and, especially, extreme threats and stigmatizations from public and patriotic figures in our Albanian national space.
The aggressive army of extremist nationalists is targeting me and my image on social media and across the diverse internet space, turning me into the most threatened Albanian sports journalist within Albania and our national territory.
Firstly, and without any equivocation, I must apologize to all those who perceive and consider my wearing of such a shirt as an insult or anti-national provocation.
It was never my intention nor could I have imagined that such an act would gain the weight of provocation or nationalist inspiration amidst the long history of enmity between the two nations. I am a sports journalist, and I serve only this professional purpose.
I simply wore a sports shirt given to me by the Serbian volleyball coach during the recent Balkan Championship held in Tirana. That was all. I did not consider what this would provoke! This is my mistake, where for a moment I underestimated the negative impact I am now facing and the threats I am enduring.
But after offering my apology, I must declare to everyone that my heart and soul reflect my family’s patriotic and Albanian-loving heritage. I have always been and remain simply a sports journalist, embodying my patriotism in my concrete activities.
In October 2006, through my strong lobbying, I was the first to raise the Cham issue in the European Parliament, for the first time in 62 years.
In 2008, I was the first to report from Europe on Kosovo’s independence.
I have defended our red and black flag in Belgrade and Strumica. I have spent my life in sports. And sports is peace, not war. As a well-informed person on the history of my people and country, I firmly believe that Serbia should apologize to Kosovo for the inhumane crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing, and 100-year occupation of a significant part of my homeland, our Kosovo. Similarly, I am professionally aware that sports build bridges.
Stop, friends, this unwarranted and unreasonable crusade against me due to a thoughtless act of wearing a shirt! Stop, as your current and massive punishment has exceeded and is exceeding your rights, which is now unjust!
With faith in your human response and with such passion!”**