THE NATIONAL UNION OF
JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE
As is known, since the spring of 2022, an international program for the protection of media workers has been launched in the Republic of Kosovo. Among its organizers are leading journalistic associations headquartered in EU countries.
The project implementers are the creative unions of Kosovo (AGK) and Ukraine (National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU)). And the government of the youngest Balkan state, the capital of which is Pristina, has joined in supporting the initiative. Acting Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti invited a group of Ukrainian participants in the program to meet in the government office on February 24 on a well-known occasion – the sorrowful third anniversary of the full-scale Moscow’s crime (war).
The senior official noted, in particular, that the aggression launched on February 24, 2022, caused immense suffering to those who courageously defended their country and assured Kosovo stands in solidarity with Ukraine in its liberation struggle. This is evidenced, in addition to words, by practical actions, including support for the program for media professionals, the assistance provided to Kyiv with military equipment, and participation in the training of Ukrainian military personnel in European countries.
After this meeting, Albin Kurti wrote on the social network X: “In Kosovo, a country that survived genocide, we deeply understand the pain and resilience of the Ukrainian people. Our solidarity is not only in words but also in actions – to host Ukrainian journalists in our country, to send military equipment, and, together with our allies such as the United Kingdom, to contribute to the training of Ukrainian soldiers. We support Ukraine in its struggle for freedom and democracy.”
In turn, media professionals, including the secretary of the NUJU/vice-president of the Journalist Initiative Foundation, Serhii Shevchenko, exchanged views on sensitive issues related to the war during their conversation with an experienced statesman and politician from Kosovo. The participants of the program, who came from different regions of Ukraine and the capital, also spoke about their professional and public activities in the information sphere. The journalists thanked the Kosovars and co-organizers of the project for the created conditions for active work.
Interestingly, it was during the conversation that the editor, Maryna Zhyvotkova, received a call from her son, who is currently defending Ukraine in the army. The Luhansk colleague, who was speaking at the round table, did not hesitate to show the soldier and his brothers online which meeting she was attending in Kosovo. The participants of the event, including Albin Kurti, were also able to see the military realities of the defenders. After the official part of the meeting, its participants informally communicated for another quarter of an hour in the government hall. Thanks to Albin Kurti and the editor of a newspaper from Izium (Kharkiv Region), the NUJU secretary Kostiantyn Hryhorenko, the media heard about the importance of foreign volunteering and generally comprehensive support for the armed struggle of Ukrainians.
They spoke about the unity of Europeans and the whole world in defending the values of democracy, which is so necessary and relevant at this time.
On the same day, several more events were held in the center of Pristina – the focus of their attention was the rebuff to the aggressor, which the heroic Ukrainian people have been giving since 2014. Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps spoke at an evening meeting in the amphitheater of the National Library, where a documentary about the realities of the first months of the full-scale attack by ruscists was also shown. “Real orcs, moral freaks” was what foreigners and Ukrainian journalists present at the event said about the occupiers. The whole world should know such realities of war.
Liudmyla Mekh
Pristina (Kosovo)
Photo be Serhii Shevchenko
February 24, 2025
Source: Journalist Initiative’s website
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