Photo: Website of the President of the Russian Federation / Sergei Bobylev, brics-russia2024.ru Host Photo Agency
In focus of the reporting on foreign political topics related to global geopolitics and safety in the recent period, two topics dominated—the BRICS summit and the presence of South Korean troops in Russia. That said, the topic of BRICS broke records in the media sphere. Domestic media outlets generally reported using western sources, however, since the main focus was put on the topics of BRICS and the Western Balkans, there was not a small number of examples where regional sources were also used, which on the other hand, in a not small number use Russian state media outlets as sources
The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, the South African Republic, and this year’s new members Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates) Summit in the Russian city of Kazan, was as expected, the dominant topic related to foreign politics on which Macedonian media outlets reported in the recent period. All the more so since the summit was attended by fifteen other leaders or high representatives of countries interested in cooperation with BRICS (36 countries in total), including the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres.
In light of that, domestic media outlets are not different from the global trends, although naturally, there are differences in the headlines, in the texts, in the angle of reporting, and so on. These elements were often adorned with words of praise for the success of BRICS (although, for example, the relevant British public service BBC has also registered the progress and the development of this intergovernmental organization for cooperation which is generally considered to be a counterpart to the West).
For example, in local reporting, there was a great number of online media outlets which used the vocabulary of the Russian state agency TASS, which quotes an Australian columnist that with the participation of 36 countries plus Guterres, the BRICS summit surpassed the G7 and G20 summits (the most developed countries in the world). Still, you will not find TASS as a source in Macedonian media outlets, only indirectly, or through the western or regional sources used among domestic media outlets, where Serbian sources from Serbia or Republika Srpska dominate.
To conclude, the reporting on this topic was noticeable, since it began days before the 16th regular BRICS summit, which was held recently, from October 22-24 in Kazan, Russia which also shows public interest. Still, even with the general impression that professional news was published with the necessary distance and the citing of sources, in the reporting, the number of propaganda messages from Moscow and Kazan regarding the BRICS was also not insubstantial. Through various channels, these messages also entered the Macedonian media space.
News about BRICS dominating before, during, and after the summit
During the two days on which the summit took place, media outlets in the Macedonian language continuously reported on the events surrounding the summit. For example, here is a screenshot from one of the domestic news aggregators Time.mk on the 24th of October, the day the official part of the summit ended:
Even after the end of the summit, at the very end of October, media outlets in the Macedonian language continued to follow the news surrounding the gathering in Kazan. For example, many media outlets shared the statement by the head of Russian diplomacy, Sergey Lavrov, who said the summit demonstrated the failure of the West in its efforts to isolate Russia. This was the main propaganda message Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to spread, diligently preparing this summit which resulted in around twenty leaders of countries and around fifteen more high level representatives.
The results of the BRICS summit in Kazan show the inability of Western countries to isolate Russia on the international stage, said today the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov.
The countries of the world majority do not follow the example of the West, they strengthen relations with us in various formats and areas. Testifying to this are the results from the BRICS summit in Kazan under Russian presidency, Lavrov said at the opening of the 8th World Congress of Compatriots Living Abroad, writes the newspaper “Izvestia,” part of the media outlets report the same news, the source of which is the Serbian agency Tanjug.
Other media outlets reported the statement by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who also shared words of praise for the results of the BRICS summit, but also called on the countries of the expanded BRICS or so-called BRICS Plus to work on conflict prevention:
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on the “BRICS Plus” countries to strive for common security, common development and harmony among civilizations. He made the remarks and referred to the BRICS Plus Leaders’ Dialogue.
Noting that the collective rise of the Global South is a particular feature of the great transformation around the world, China’s President Xi Jinping said the countries of the Global South marching together towards modernization is monumental in world history and unprecedented in human civilization, another media outlet reports, referring to the online media outlet “Nova Makedonija,” which posted the text 4 days earlier.
The reporting was on almost every detail related to BRICS and the summit, including the one that Lavrov, after being stepped on the foot, started cursing someone.
Of particular interest was the reporting on the visit to Kazan by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN.
Guterres—BRICS
The visit of Guterres to the BRICS summit was an occasion for the Secretary-General of the UN to receive serious criticism from multiple sides, followed by a confirmation by official Kyiv three days later, which states he was refused a meeting by the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, part of the Macedonian media outlets reported.
After Kazan, he wanted to come to Ukraine, however, the president did not confirm his visit because of the breach of international law in Kazan, said the official, who wished to remain anonymous.
António Guterres came to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, attended by the leaders of India and China, among others. In the conversation with Putin, the Secretary-General of the UN repeated “his stance that the Russian invasion of Ukraine breaches international law,” says the announcement from his (Guterres’) spokesman’s office.
The Kremlin still has not released any information on the content of their conversations. Before the meeting, Guterres once again called before the participants of the summit for “righteous peace” in Ukraine. Even before the Putin-Guterres conversations, Kyiv criticized the “wrong choice” of the Secretary-General of the UN to go to Kazan, which has only “damaged the reputation of the UN.”
Media outlets highlighted the greatness of Putin and the politics of Serbia and Republika Srpska
Days before the summit, as well as after it, headlines were circulating among media outlets which pointed out the increased influence of Russia through this organization, with the Russian President Putin trying to show the world his country is not isolated and it gathers more and more world leaders. Such headlines could be seen among some media outlets (here, here, and here). At the same time, some media outlets also published the video of the ceremony the night before the opening, sharing an extensive report by Al Jazeera.
Almost three years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine was condemned by countries around the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin organized a summit with more than a dozen world leaders. It is a clear signal from the Russian president that not only is he not isolated, but behind him stands a powerful coalition of countries, writes CNN, reports one of the media outlets, says in the analysis of that information before the summit, published by “Truthmeter.mk”
Part of the media outlets were also focused on Serbia and the previous telephone conversation between Putin and Aleksandar Vučić. At the same time, Vučić’s statement that he will not attend the summit for reasons he believes are clear to Putin, even if he weren’t busy with the reception of the Polish president on October 23 in Belgrade, is highlighted. However, at the same time, media outlets also point out in their headlines that Serbia will be represented by a four-member delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin. Some of the media outlets also shared Vulin’s statement with criticism toward EU’s policy, stating the “quickest route to membership seems to be to go to war with Russia.”
Some other media outlets, focused on the statement by the President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, who stated it is “a great honor for Republika Srpska to take part in the event.”
“We are honored to be able to appear at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, where the group’s summit is taking place next week…We want to be where growth, development and new opportunities for cooperation are being discussed,” he said… “Now there is some pressure, and even threats, conditions, but the elections in America will show how naively Europe followed all their conditions and how some policies are changing,” added Dodik, pointing out that Republika Srpska will continue the policy of neutrality.
Proof that this issue is of interest to media outlets is the news about Vučić’s statements after the summit and after the meeting with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, as well as the repeated reporting of what Dodik said, that is, that he intended to receive financing from BRICS.
Social networks in exaltation from BRICS
In spite of everything, it can be concluded that media outlets in the Macedonian language, at least most of them, have tried to maintain relative professionalism and relative balance in reporting, this was evident since opposite examples of clickbait titles with eulogies, were a commonplace in the placing of news and reports among media outlets in the Macedonian language.
However, on social networks, real exaltation could be noticed from the “output” of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, more specifically, its expansion and numerous other signed documents between the organization and its members, and supporters or aspirants for membership.
“Truthmeter.mk” conducted a studious analysis dedicated to the reflections on BRICS which were circulating on social networks, which among other things, says:
Reflecting on the BRICS summit, its Macedonian fans have shared their exaltation in relation to the West gaining a strong opponent that will abolish the American dollar, the introduction of a new currency among the member countries of this grouping, which will dominate on the world geopolitical map, and the need for North Macedonia to ultimately join this block.
Finally, what is most important for them, BRICS will not blackmail the new partners (among which North Macedonia promisingly sees itself) like the West, so it will not have to fall to its knees, but have the chance to join the “new post-Western world.” For the chance not to “fall to our knees before the EU doors to enter the kingdom of the fascists and the LGBT ‘patients’” and in the video post which claims BRICS does not blackmail anyone with “the name, identity, language, and culture.”
Farewell to the dollar!?
In the analysis, posts on social networks which glorify Russia were registered, however, the recent alleged “death” of the dollar was also pointed out:
Among the posts which glorify BRICS there is also one on the YouTube channel “Sloboden Svet” [“Free World”] which claims this is the only summit that allows Macedonians to be “full-blooded Macedonians” and that “we must be abnormal as people and as individuals” if we do not desire BRICS. The post says the future of Macedonia is within the framework of the BRICS, and we do not need globalist policy which “puts the Macedonian national interests on sale…”
The desired BRICS supremacy is also reflected in the post which glorifies Russian President Putin, before whom supposedly the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres kneels.
Among the posts which circulate “in honor of BRICS” are those about the single currency of the member states (presented by the president of Russia) which “will replace the dollar,” to whom farewells are already being bid.
Still, the analysis emphasizes this disinformation spreads even though Putin himself has stated it is not true:
Russian President Vladimir Putin made it clear at the summit that the BRICS nations are not outright rejecting the US dollar but are preparing alternatives if access to it continues to be restricted. By exploring alternative currencies for trade, BRICS seeks to mitigate the risks posed by such political measures, writes “Financial Express,” states the analysis by “Truthmeter.mk.”
Overall, complete dominance of the media and the space of social networks with the topics of Russia, BRICS, the future of the world, and among the sea of information, fan elements and propaganda, as well as disinformation, was clear to see.
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