THE NATIONAL UNION OF
JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE
On the occasion of Ukraine’s Independence Day, the organizers of the professional protection program for journalists Journalists-in-Residence Kosovo and the government of the young Balkan republic have planned a series of events to support Kyiv in the war against the ruscist occupiers, reports the press service of the Journalist Initiative all-Ukrainian charity fund.
The meetings to take place in Pristina on August 24-25, 2023, will be attended by Ukrainian media professionals involved in this unique international program, including representatives of the leadership of the Journalist Initiative fund.
According to the founder and president of the fund, Liudmyla Mekh, Ukrainian journalists express their heartfelt gratitude to international partners for their sincere support, understanding, and comprehensive assistance to the program participants. “This program is really the best in Europe for media workers who work remotely, maintain ties with Ukrainian media, and remain on the information front of the distant, but so dear to each of us, motherland,” the journalist and public activist notes.
Ukrainian colleagues, members of the creative union of journalists, and other public associations of press workers are incredibly grateful to the managing director of the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, Dr. Lutz Kinkel, the senior legal adviser of this center, Flutura Kusari, and the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, headed by Xhemajl Rexha. The partners make every effort to make the program not only rich, interesting, and useful for creative people (they are offered foreign language courses, training sessions, seminars, etc.) but also one that really helps the participants to stay in their chosen profession during the war.
Hospitable Kosovars, German partners, and the management of the NUJU, in particular its President Sergiy Tomilenko, take care of the further development of this international project. All those involved in it, as well as acquaintances and friends in Pristina, strive to expand ties and deepen cooperation between the states and both nations, which at different times were subjected to the aggression of their neighbors. These days, for example, everyone is sincerely happy that the Republic of Kosovo has officially joined the declaration of the G7 countries regarding the support of security guarantees for Ukraine.
… As is known, in February 2023 – on the tragic anniversary of the full-scale ruscist invasion – the capital of Kosovo was awash with blue and yellow flags and slogans. Officials and foreign ambassadors spoke at the meeting in the City Hall. A solemn ceremony was held in the parliament building to hand over letters of thanks to Ukrainian journalists working in Kosovo. The heads of higher authorities personally handed the letters signed by three heads of state, government, and parliament to mass media representatives. The letter states, in particular: “…we want to express not only our solidarity with you and your country but also our gratitude for the assistance to Kosovo and the work of our institutions, for the contribution to our democracy… and for the fact that friendly ties are getting stronger and stronger between our peoples”. President Vjosa Osmani, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo Glauk Konjufca delivered speeches, the leitmotif of which was solidarity with the Ukrainian people, unwavering in their determination to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state. With the heroic nation, Kosovars share the pain of lost human lives…
“There is no doubt that Ukraine will defeat the Moscow aggressor,” says publicist writer, vice-president of the foundation, and secretary of the NUJU, Serhii Shevchenko. “And the time is not far off when official Kyiv recognizes the independence of the Republic of Kosovo. No one can stop the course of history, even if this course is not very easy. With the support of its allies, Ukraine will definitely return all the territories temporarily occupied by the ruscists, and further on the diplomatic front, there will be joint victories, which the friendly peoples seek.”
In the immediate plans of the organizers of the Journalists-in-Residence Kosovo program is a meeting with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, on the morning of August 24. Therefore, there will be communication with ministers and ambassadors, and in the evening, the facade of the government building will be illuminated in the colors of the Ukrainian flag; more details about all this will be found in the following photo reports and publications.
Press service of Journalist Initiative fund
Photo: Serhii Shevchenko
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