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Antonevičs, Māris
5 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Yanukovych polishes up his image
Viktor Yanukovych, winner of Ukraine's presidential elections, is generally regarded as more pro-Russian than his opponent Yulia Tymoshenko or his predecessor Viktor Yushchenko. The daily Latvijas Avīze questions this theory: "Ukraine is not Russia, where even before the elections it was clear that Medvedev would succeed Putin and their United Russia party would win the parliamentary elections. Yushchenko lost the popularity he enjoyed during the times of the Orange Revolution. Russian gas, on which Ukraine is dependent, played a major role in this loss. Yushchenko's former rival Yanukovych can now finally take possession of the presidential seat he coveted for so long, but he is also at pains to correct his image from previous times. ... Moreover Yanukovych remains deeply unpopular in western Ukraine, and it is entirely possible that he will be forced to make concessions."
» full article (external link, Latvian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Domestic Policy, » Ukraine, » Russia
Baltic states quarrel over attending celebrations in Moscow
The presidents of Estonia and Lithuania caused a stir when they refused to attend the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II five years ago in Moscow. Now the countries are discussing whether their leaders should attend the next celebrations five years later. But the daily Latvijas Avīze comments that the situation is now different: "Five years ago there was a real reason for the polemic: President Putin had sent out invitations that could be accepted or rejected. This year neither country has been invited, but that hasn't stopped people from discussing whether we should go. ... The smartest reaction came from Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, who said she'd first like to see President Medvedev at the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of Lithuania's independence in Vilnius. As it's highly unlikely that the Russian president will go to Lithuania for the occasion, Dalia Grybauskaitė won't have to make an appearance on Red Square either."
» full article (external link, Latvian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » History, » Lithuania, » Latvia, » Estonia, » Russia
Minaret ban is part of the integration debate
For a long time Switzerland was regarded as a model democracy, but after its minaret ban the country is being denounced as undemocratic. The daily Latvijas Avīze finds the accusations unjustified: "It's surprising that Switzerland is now having to endure such harsh attacks from abroad precisely because of its high degree of democracy. … In reality the Swiss 'No' is just part of a discussion that has gone on for years about how much Europe must be Islamised in the name of integration. We Latvians know from experience that integration doesn't come about of its own accord: it needs a basis, and in Latvia that basis is the Latvian language, culture and traditions. In the debate about the Lisbon Treaty the proposal to declare Christianity a fundamental EU value triggered a discussion. The idea wasn't successful. But the referendum in Switzerland is not the first decision that restricts the use of Muslim symbols."
» full article (external link, Latvian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Domestic Policy, » Religion, » Migration, » Integration, » Minorities, » Latvia, » Switzerland
Latvia's new prime minister faces serious tasks
Latvia's former finance minister, Valdis Dombrovskis, is now the country's prime minister. The daily Latvijas Avize writes on the difficult tasks awaiting the new head of government: "Pity is number one on the list of emotions he arouses. Firstly because of our country's difficult economic situaton and the painful decisions he will have to make right from the start. And secondly because of the complicated make-up of the new coalition. But Dombrovskis will not be able to lead the country on the strength of pity alone, and it will not be enought just to hope that fortuitous events will improve things before the next parliamentary elections in 2010."
» full article (external link, Latvian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Latvia
Violent protests over the financial crisis in Riga
Demonstrators in Riga have hurled paving stones at the parliament and inflicted huge damages in the centre of the city in anger at the repercussions of the international financial crisis in Latvia. Latvijas Avize newspaper is shocked: "January 13 will go down in Latvian history, because not even during the struggle for independence did Latvians resort to violence in presenting their views. And they have always proved immune to provocation. But now it has happened, and even if it sounds banal: we have crossed a threshhold comparable to 9/11 in the United States. Just as the the authorities in Washington did not take warnings seriously back then, we too ignored information about potential provocations. And our government now has a pretext to tighten the thumbscrews, which means restricting democracy and the recourse to political action."
» full article (external link, Latvian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » Economic Policy, » Latvia
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