The following media round-up on international, legal and foreign policy issues from around the Balkans for the period from 7 March 2024 to 14 March 2024.
Guernica 37 will provide weekly media updates with a focus on Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Should you wish to contribute or submit a media summary, opinion piece or blog, please send to Ned Vucijak at nenadv@guernica37.com for consideration.
Romania - 14 March 2024
The European Parliament (EP) adopted a resolution on the return of the Romanian national treasure illegally appropriated by Russia. After World War I, the Romanian gold treasure, sent to Russia between 1916 and 1917 for safekeeping, was never fully returned; see here.
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Balkans - 14 March 2024
New report by Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner says many countries have made progress on gender identity recognition, but more can still be done to tackle discrimination; see here.
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Kosovo - 14 March 2024
Kosovo seems to have taken a crucial step to ensure membership of the Council of Europe (‘CoE’). Benefits to membership to CoE will be manifold, from enabling Kosovans with access to the European Court of Human Rights; see here.
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Montenegro - 13 March 2024
Montenegrin Interior Minister claims the government acted illegally when it appointed an interim head of the police without his approval; see here.
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Kosovo - 13 March 2024
Prime Minister Albin Kurti said a court ruling awarding 24 hectares of land to the Visoki Decani Serbian Orthodox monastery must be implemented – as the price of Kosovo's accession to the Council of Europe; see here.
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Romania - 12 March 2024
British police investigating allegations of rape and human trafficking have been granted a warrant to extradite Andrew Tate to the UK. Bedfordshire police said they had been granted the warrant by authorities in Romania but would have to wait until proceedings there are completed; see here.
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Serbia - 12 March 2024
Despite Serbia’s Trade Ministry denying BIRN access to information on arms sales to Israel after the Hamas attack, BIRN has found out that two arms shipments took place over this period; see here.
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Balkans - 12 March 2024
Children using AI to generate pornographic imagery and mock their school friends is a growing concern in the region. Authorities say they have few such cases, but NGOs warn the phenomenon is widespread and must be addressed in law; see here.
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Bosnia - 12 March 2024
Brussels is pushing to accelerate EU expansion in Western Balkans as it eyes growing Russian and Chinese influence; see here.
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Kosovo - 9 March 2024
Serb communities in parts of Kosovo are struggling to get their hands on dinars, jeopardising the salaries, pensions and social security payments that thousands there get from Belgrade; see here.
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Romania - 9 March 2024
Gabriel Resources Ltd, a Canadian company that aimed to build one of Europe’s largest gold and silver mines at Rosia Montana, has lost a $4.4 billion damages claim against Romania for quashing the project over environmental concerns; see here.