Photo : USC Shoah Foundation
24 May 2024, Friday | NIAS Europe Daily Brief #842
By Neha Tresa George
ESTONIA
Border guards report on Russia’s removal of the navigation buoys
On 23 May, Estonian border guards reported that their Russian counterparts had removed 24 out of the 50 buoys placed on the Estonian side of Narva River. According to the Estonian authorities, the strategically placed buoys prevent ships from entering into foreign territory and that Russia had been contesting over their positions since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas described the removal of the buoys as a "border incident." She also added that Russia used tools such as borders to induce fear and anxiety. The motives behind the move are still unclear although it happened following Russia’s deleted message to the Baltic countries on the revision of the maritime border in the eastern Baltic Sea. The Narva River runs from a lake between Russia and Estonia and ends up in the Gulf of Finland which is a part of the Baltic Sea. Natural changes to the riverbed make it necessary to retrace the shipping routes annually. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia's Baltic Sea borders should be in accordance with international law. (“Estonia says Russia removed navigation buoys near border,” Deutsche Welle, 23 May 2024)
FRANCE
French President holds talks in the troubled islands of New Caledonia
On 23 May, President Emmanuel Macron met with local officials in New Caledonia on Thursday, seeking a political solution to end riots in the region. He called the unrest an "absolutely unprecedented insurrection movement” and confirmed that the French police reinforcements would remain till the region has stabilised. He added that there is no other choice as the republican order needs to be reestablished. He kept security and peace to be the top priority along with questions of economic reconstruction, support and rapid response, and the most delicate political questions about the future of the region. After meeting with leaders on both sides of the political divide of New Caledonia, Macron had also confirmed that the vote reform won’t be forced through the people and would be put on hold. Although he was against extending the current state of emergency, it could only be lifted if all the political leaders called for the removal of barricades and roadblocks. He wanted the situation to be reviewed after a month so that considerable changes could be made. As a call to the Kanak representatives, he put forth the need to explicitly remove all the blockades in the following hours. (“Macron: New Caledonia vote reform won't be 'forced through',” Deutsche Welle, 23 May 2024)
GEORGIA
Georgians continue demonstrating against the “foreign influence” bill
On 23 May, Deutsche Welle reported that writers, artists, filmmakers were involved among the peaceful protests that had been taking place in Georgia. The foreign agents law requires the NGOs, media organisations and other groups that receive more than 20 per cent of finance from abroad to register as “pursuing the interests of foreign power.” Nino Lomadze founder and editor of Indigo, a government critical magazine claimed that the press freedom and freedom of expression of the country are attacked by the government to control and repress it. She also calls for the support from the international community. The critics fear that the law might affect Georgia’s candidacy to the EU. Recently, the government has been trying to influence the country’s cultural life. Film manager Gaga Chkheidze, the long-serving director of the Tbilisi International Film Festival, lost his position as head of the National Film Centre after criticising the government for failing to distance itself from Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. According to the Georgian author Giorgi Maisuradze, the protests were clearly about the ruling party consolidating its solo rule. Salome Jashi, in her 2021 documentary Taming the Garden has shown the struggle of the country for its future in a poetic way but the film is not allowed to be shown in Georgia. The demonstrations are expected to continue till the presidential elections in October. It indicates the population’s will to remain European. (Stefan Dege, “Georgia at a cultural crossroads,” Deutsche Welle, 23 May 2024)
SPAIN
A building collapses on Spain’s island of Mallorca
On 23 May, local media of Spain’s Mediterranean island Mallorca reported that a restaurant in the Playa de Palma collapsed killing at least four people and injuring twenty-one. Mallorca, which is a popular tourist destination, saw the accident ahead of the peak season. According to the Spanish media, the incident took place around 8:30 p.m. local time in the Playa de Palma, south of the island’s capital, Palma de Mallorca. Prime Minister Pedro Snachez said that he had been closely monitoring the consequences of the terrible accident and that the government was ready to help “with all the means and troops that are necessary.” (A building collapses on Spain’s island of Mallorca, Deutsche Welle, 23 May 2024)
REGIONAL
NATO General urges for support for Ukraine in Washington Summit
On 21 May, at an Atlantic Council event, former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged the West to wake up with regard to Russia’s war in Ukraine. During the conference, the role of NATO as a transatlantic security organisation was highlighted. He argued that Ukraine must be invited for accession talks in Washington in July to send a strong message to Putin. The leaders stated that Ukraine’s invitation to NATO would also acknowledge their bravery and struggle in the face of Russia’s invasion. They also sought to provide a humanitarian air defence shield over Ukraine by NATO. Other efforts to strengthen the alliance by redrawing their defence budget were discussed. With the US presidential elections nearing, the summit concluded that the leaders must secure a global order by resisting Russia, Iran and China from reaching the global arena. (Katherine Walla, "NATO must accelerate support and secure membership for Ukraine at its Washington summit, transatlantic leaders urge,” Atlantic Council, 22 May 2024
UN establishes a day for the remembrance of genocide in Bosnia
On 23 May, the UN voted to create 11 July to be the International Day of Remembrance for the 1995 Srebrenica genocide. On that day, Serb forces killed around 8,000 Muslim men and teenage boys. The UN condemned “any denial of the genocide” and urged its members to “preserve the established facts.” Although the resolution written by Germany and Rwanda does not mention Serbia as perpetrator, some Serb leaders have opposed it in the fear that it will brand them as “genocidal” supporters of mass killing.
Aleksandar Vucic, Serbian President had said he would be at the UN to "fight with all my strength and heart" to block the initiative. Vasily Nebenzia, Russia’s UN ambassador also condemned the bill, referring it as “provocative” and a “threat to the peace and security.” He also added that the resolution would put all the blame on the Serbs by erasing the “shameful evidence” of NATO bombing the former Yugoslavia. The Srebrenica massacre which killed around 100,000 people took place around the end of Bosnian War when the Serb forces captured the town of Srebrenica, a UN protected enclave at that time. In the following days, Serb troops separated 8,000 Muslim Bosniak men and teenage boys from their wives, mothers, and sisters, and then slaughtered them. Considered to be the single worst atrocity in Europe since World War II, both the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Court of Justice had found this incident to be an act of genocide.
Background
In April and May 1992, the Bosnian Serb army along with help from Yogoslav Army and paramilitary groups began the "ethinica cleanse" drive against all non-Serbian inhabitants from Bosnia. Under this campaign, the Bosnian Serb forces used Siege warfare and systematic persecution as tactics to displace people, confiscate and destroy property and cultural objects including mosques and Catholic churches. The fall of Srebrenica and Cepa the campaign came to an end but the abuses carried out during the "cleansing" were considered war crimes and crimes against humanity but no one was held responsible rather seen as an attempt to "commit genocide" against the non-Serbs and Bosnian Muslims. As a result of this thousands of Muslims and non-Serb men fled to Cepa, Gorazde and Srebrenica resulting in boom of population in Srebrenica from 37,000 to 60,000. This resulted in turning the Bosnian forces attention into Srebrenica and despite the UN declared it as "safe areas" the forces continued to overrun and engaged in executions furthering war crimes and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to ICRC, 8,000 remain disappeared and accounted since the overrun.
Putin in Belarus
On 23 May, Vladimir Putin, Russian President arrived in Belarus for talks on the involvement in the second phase of the tactical nuclear exercise. Following Russia’s announcement of the drills, Belarus ordered a similar exercise to test Belarus’ nuclear-capable weapon systems, including Iskander missile launchers. The exercise involves delivering nuclear weapons to soldiers from storage facilities, equipping missiles with tactical nuclear warheads, and deploying such weapons. In 2023, Following a "friendly request" from Belarus, Putin agreed to store a small supply of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus as a deterrent.
On 24 May, Aleksandr Lukashenko, Belarus President following the meeting with Putin stated that both countries will continue their "stronger integration" and also held close talks on bilateral agenda, economy, "stable development" and challenges emerging in the border areas. Lukashenko said: "Against all odds Minsk and Moscow preserve the policy in favor of stronger integration. We support each other and will support in all areas. Moreover, our projects have already gone beyond the earth surface."