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Disinfo: Western Balkans countries have a deficit of euroenthusiasm

Summary

European Union is not assured how the enlargement process will look in perspective, especially because of Western Balkans countries which have a deficit of euroenthusiasm.

 

Disproof

Recurring disinformation narrative about the end of the EU integrations.

According to the Eurobarometer Survey, published in 2019, Serbia is the only Western Balkan country whose citizens have more trust in the national government (41%) than in the European Union (33%). In North Macedonia, these figures are 57% for EU and 33% for the national government, in Albania 69% to 40% and the result in Montenegro is 47% to 43%.

There is strong support to the EU membership across the Western Balkans, except in Serbia. According to research conducted by National Democratic Institue in 2018, 72% of Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens, 69% of North Macedonia citizens, 55% of Montenegrins and 45% of Serbian citizens would vote "For", if the referendum for EU membership of their country was held.

Read similar disinformation message claiming that EU enlargement on Western Balkans will not happen.

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  • Reported in: Issue 184
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 09/02/2020
  • Language/target audience: Serbian
  • Country: North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia
  • Keywords: Euro-scepticism, Western Balkans, EU/NATO enlargement
  • Outlet: Sputnik Srbija

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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The US and their NATO lieutenant nations prepare an attack on Russia comparable to the Nazi invasion

The last week in January the Americans and their gang of lieutenant nations in NATO have commenced the biggest military exercises in 25 years to take place in Europe. The code name for this operation is Defender-Europe 20 but we can interpret that as Attack-Russia 20; in effect a preparation for an attack on Russia comparable to the Nazi invasion in 1941 that killed 27 million Soviet citizens, wounded countless more and destroyed everything west of the Urals.

February 10, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the West/ NATO threatening or encircling Russia and the US-led military exercise "Defender-Europe 2020", which is not aimed or targeted at Russia. US Major General Andrew Rohling Deputy Commanding General for the US Army in Europe, informs that the US-led exercise "Defender 2020" is an American exercise with 18 NATO partner countries. Rohling emphasises that the aim of the exercise is not to target any country, but rather to test strategic readiness and how to react to a crisis.

Exercise Defender-Europe 2020 is the deployment of a division-size combat-credible force from the United States to Europe, the drawing of equipment and the movement of personnel and equipment across the Atlantic to various training areas in Europe, like Germany and Poland. With US Defender Europe 2020, the 18 participating NATO-countries are therefore practising procedures to ensure and demonstrate the ability to relocate and also to confirm the alliance's commitment to supporting and, in particular, to show the United States' commitment to Europe's security.

Coronavirus is the West’s revenge for China refusing to become hostile towards Russia

The new coronavirus is a comprehensive, multi-factor special operation by UK-US alliance. Brexit and coronavirus are linked because Britain’s exit from the EU allows the UK not to face losses to be inflicted by coronavirus upon the EU. The people in charge of the operation ‘coronavirus’ decide if the virus should spread to Belarus or not.

Since 2013 China has attempted to go away from the strategy imposed by the West, namely the confrontation with Russia. The West boosted China with the aim to throw it against Russia.

To constrain China, thanks to the hysteria around coronavirus and growing Sinophobia, soon the West will start blocking Chinese trade routes and make the presence of Chinese business in Europe more problematic.

February 10, 2020
Disproof

This is a conspiracy theory, one of a dozen of other similar cases about the coronavirus, which is consistent with the narrative that the spread of coronavirus is a controlled operation by the US, UK, and the West to weaken China economically. Furthermore, it follows a recurring propagandistic narrative about the West's anti-Russian activities. The claim that the West has been pushing China to wage war against Russia which Beijing ultimately refused to do, is groundless.

The virus migrated from animals to humans, and while the scientists continue to track its origins there is no evidence to suggest it has been made artificially. In response to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the Chinese authorities have placed more than a dozen cities under quarantine. The World Health Organisation is working with Chinese authorities and global experts to learn more about the virus. The virus "2019-nCoV” comes from a family of viruses that include the common cold, and viruses such as SARS and MERS.

Europe not prepared to admit that Poland and others colluded with Nazi Germany

Russia possesses documents confirming that several European countries, including Poland, engaged in negotiations with Nazi Germany. Europe is not yet prepared to admit this part of its history: that Poland and other European countries colluded with Nazi Germany. Moreover, Lipski, the Polish ambassador to the Third Reich, had promised to erect a monument to Adolf Hitler for the Führer’s plan to deport Polish Jews to Africa.

February 10, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative that attempts to relativise and erode the disastrous historical role of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact by stating that other countries signed various international agreements with Adolf Hitler throughout the 1930s and that Poland was an ally of Nazi Germany. The article also contains the recurrent disinformation message that accuses Poland of anti-Semitism.

The claim that Poland was “an ally of Nazi Germany” goes against all available historical documents. It is impossible to compare the German-Polish Non-Aggression Pact of 1934 with the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, as the former was a standard international agreement aimed at the mutual recognition of borders and a declaration that existing political conflicts would be solved through diplomatic tools. There is no historical evidence that this pact contained any secret protocols which assumed common aggressive actions of Germany and Poland against third parties.