3 mins
A press review presented in partnership with The Balkan Courier
In recent days, Transnistria has caused a lot of concern among Westerners: whether the small separatist province of Moldova would ask, like Crimea and Donbass, its attachment to Russia ? A congress of “ all elected officials » was held on February 28 in Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria, on the eve of Vladimir Putin’s speech to the nation. This doesn’t have ultimately not the case, but the pro-European authorities in Chișinău are under more pressure than ever. Especially in the run-up to the Russian presidential election on March 11. Two years after the start of the invasion of Ukraine, Serbia’s positioning still causes concern. Belgrade still refuses to join Western sanctions against Russia and the Serbian capital hosts several tens of thousands of exiles, including many employees of Yandex, the Russian Google. Is the country the bridgehead of Moscow’s influence in Europe? Interview with political scientist Igor Bandović.
Very active in favor of Palestine, little Slovenia tries to make its voice heard at the United Nations Security Council, of which it is a non-permanent member. Exclusive interview with the social democratic Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tanja Fajon, who is fighting for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and respect for international law. And claims to lead feminist diplomacy.
Albania, all the way to the west?
It is in this context that Albania has hosted a new Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit in Tirana in the presence of Volodymyr Zelensky. Nothing concrete was announced: the participants simply issued a joint declaration describing the Russian invasion as “ greatest threat to world peace “. Wooden language tailor-made to satisfy Westerners.
The next day, the Albanian capital organized a European Union-Western Balkans meeting called “Better Together”. The opportunity to discuss the six billion euro recovery plan presented by Brussels last fall. But will this financial aid be enough? to concretely relaunch the dynamic of enlargement ?
Turkey aims for the Moon
A few days earlier, Prime Minister Edi Rama visited Ankara to meet Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whose close friendship he claims. On this occasion, the public broadcasters of the two countries signed a very symbolic partnership agreement : the Turkish TRT is one of the main relays of the Islamo-conservative propaganda of the AKP (The Justice and Development Party).
President Erdoğan also focuses on the conquest of space to assert Turkey’s power on the international stage. In January, the country sent its first man into space. But the real objective is the Moon, by 2026. These very costly ambitions nevertheless make many people cringe as the economic crisis rages in the country.
More and more deaths on the “Balkan route”
The “Balkan route” has once again become the main route to the European Union. But the blocking of borders makes the journey ever more perilous and more and more exiles die on the way without leaving a trace. Their loved ones search for them amid chaos and corruption. Investigation.
And sad news, finally, for all Eurovision fans. After Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Turkey, Romania joins the long list of Balkan countries who will not participate in the 68th edition of the Eurovision song contest, next May in Sweden.
Read alsoIsrael at Eurovision 2024: wave of protests in Nordic artistic circles