"A few days before the biannual summit between the European Union and Russia on the 18th and 19th of May in Samara (on the banks of the Volga), tension is higher than it has ever been since the fall of the Berlin Wall. The list of contentious subjects is getting longer and the tone of declarations coming from Moscow is less and less agreeable", notes the daily. "This isn't a question of mere squabbling, but the consequence of the 2004 European accession of countries from Central and Eastern Europe, particularly the Baltic States. Whatever they may say, the Russians have never really accepted this. As for these countries, they have brought to the Union an experience of Russian relations marked by more than half a century of domination. This experience, that the western European countries lack, makes them more mistrustful, or less naive, regarding Russian intentions." (10/05/2007)

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"Contrary to his predecessors, President Putin is an authoritarian leader", says the Dutch daily. "He is imposing heavy political pressure on his former compatriots. Through orchestrated campaigns, threats and demonstrations, the Russians directly interfered in the case of the 'Bronze Soldier' in Tallinn. ... The European Union should not let itself be intimidated. The European Commission has taken a step in the right direction by taking action against Russia after intimidating demonstrations were organised in front of the Estonian embassy in Moscow. The Estonian Prime Minister has set an example by placing a bouquet at the foot of the displaced monument. This contrasts with Putin who, prior to the commemoration of the Liberation [The Russians celebrate victory over fascism on May 9th] indirectly criticised the displacement of the monument." (09/05/2007)

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World War II memorials "were deliberately designed as symbols of Soviet power," states Romanian-German writer Richard Wagner, explaining the vehemence of the Russian-Estonian memorial dispute: "An empire that knows no public debate can only express itself through extreme symbolism. This is still in evidence now that end Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe is over. Russia never confronted its inglorious role in controlling the peoples of Eastern Europe after World War II. The failure of democratisation in Russia, the way it has reanchored itself into super-confident, resource-squandering, society-controlling conglomerate also leads to its aggressive behaviour vis-à-vis the new free states." (10/05/2007)

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Slawomir Popowski accuses Russian President Putin of instrumenalising history in a war of ideologies. "All nations have the right to organise their own hierarchy of historical events that are important for them, that influence their identity and bind them as a society… For Russians, this is undoubtedly the 9th of May, the day of the end of the war. It is no accident that it is called the 'Great Fatherland War.' A war that was won, but paid for with the lives of millions of Soviet soldiers. One has to respect that, one must honour the dead, even if we differ in our evaluation of the political results of this war. But if politicians of whatever stripe start to play with history, using it as a tool to accomplish political or ideological projects, then a problem arises. And we are becoming witnesses to just such a development. The current battle over remembrance, symbols and memorials is basically a war of ideology. It has to do with a concrete image of the state, Europe and the world. And it is in this light that we must view the pomp of this victory parade on Red Square, and Vladimir Putin's appearance there." (10/05/2007)

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Erikas Boltowskis and Ricardas Cekutis ask why the dispute over the bronze statue in Tallinn is causing such a fuss. After all, in many places Soviet memorials simply disappeared. "It could be that the reactions from Moscow really are a distraction from a completely different, much more important issue, for example the Russian-German gas pipeline, which - according to the latest plan - will go through Estonian waters. Russian marines will be charged with protecting the pipeline. And so they'll once again be the lords of the Baltic Sea. Is the history of 1939/1940 repeating itself? At any rate, Swedes and Finns have already made it quite clear that they don't want to see any soldiers in their waterways. And we should follow suit." (10/05/2007)

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"Is it a curse or a blessing to live in interesting times?" asks Turkish writer Elif Shafak. She observes the current situation in her country, where Islamic democrats and undemocratic secularists are facing off. "In Turkey, modernisation has always been initiated and carried out by a political and cultural elite. Who represents the nation? The elite? The army? The conservatives? Each group sees itself as the sole representative of the state, without considering that the nation belongs to us all. Interestingly, the anti-Western hard-liners in Turkey and the anti-Turkish hard-liners in Europe have a lot in common. Both think Islam and Western democracy are incompatible. And both are against EU membership for Turkey." (10/05/2007)

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"Every society hallucinates over metaphorical apocalypse", explains the Spanish writer Félix de Azúa presenting a long list of the epidemics that have struck humanity. "Now that our bodies have become luxury products, what guilt tortures the opulent, the rich, the wise and the beautiful ? There is the earth's syphilis known as climate change, a phenomenon that has touched the planet all through its existence and that has been accelerated by an unavoidable and relentless hyper-technologisation. ... In this legend, as in those of tuberculosis and the plague, there is a tendency to generalise. And yet, if this end of the world were to occur, it would only concern some of the planet's inhabitants. ... There will be victims of global warming just as there have been those stricken by the plague, tuberculosis, and syphilis. But even in a worst case scenario, the climatic carnage, if it actually happens, will spare a large part of the planet: where people see the end of the world every day without feeling the least pang of guilt.” (10/05/2007)

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Today, May 10th, Tony Blair will resign the leadership of the British Labour Party, before soon leaving the head of the governement. The columnist Johann Hari has a few suggestions for Blair's successor, Gordon Brown: "He can't continue to adopt the tactic he used for last week's locals [local elections] from now on. He can't simply sell the Government's record over the past decade, and answer every inquiry with a string of billions already invested. Politics is fought primarily in the future tense. Brown needs ambitious we-will-do-this-for-you plans for the future ... The rumours that Brown will launch a massive home-building strategy led by the excellent housing minister Yvette Cooper would be a good start, to deal with the millions of people just out of reach of the housing ladder. Here are two more ideas, dealing with problems at the opposite ends of the age range - teenagers and the elderly - to extend this Brownite vision of a government on your side, doing things you could never do alone." (10/05/2007)

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Paul Lendvai believes Eastern Europe should look to France, where a man like Nicolas Sarkozy can become president: "The fact that in one week, the Paris-born son of a minor aristocratic Hungarian refugee and nephew of a Sephardic Jew from Thessalonica will become the president of France is - in view of the European past and present - an historical event. Sarkozy's election is, given the numerous underhand moves by Le Pen's people and the poisonous remark by François Bayrou about his 'roots,' impressive evidence of the equanimity and tolerance of French society. In his father's homeland, Hungary, right-wing conservative populists attack their critics or opponents as people 'with a foreign heart' or a 'foreign attitude.' In Serbia, nationalists bad-mouth moderate democrats as yes-men and stooges of foreigners. In Budapest or Belgrade and especially in Warsaw or Moscow, a freely elected president like Sarkozy, with similar roots, is hard to imagine." (10/05/2007)

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The chronicler Ferreira Fernandes sees a symbol of French renewal in the story of a former boxing world champion. "Mahyar Monshipour, with Iranian roots, has just written a book titled 'The rage of being French'. There are few subjects as important for Europe as the integration of immigrants. If I come across an immigrant who, when asked about his career (as European champion and world champion...) specifies that 'most important was to be a French champion', I jump into the ring to let this be known. Another symbol in the aftermath of the [French] elections is that the son of an immigrant won and that both of the finalists had spokesmen from North African backgrounds ... and there was an enthusiastic participation of immigrants and children of immigrants in the campaign. In two months time, France will have a new Parliament and Portugal, which doesn't have a single black person in its own Parliament, should then look towards France." (09/05/2007)

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The new minister of justice, Tudor Chiuariu, wants to fire public prosecutor Doru Tulus, who is responsible for cases of corruption. Chiuariu has accused him of being inefficient. But critics of the decision say Chiuariu is trying to get rid of a judicious official. "When Minister of Justice Monica Macovei lost her position, she warned that the next to go would probably be the attorneys general. An even more dire warning came from EU Commissioner of Justice Franco Frattini in Brussels: If the attorneys general are in the line of fire, Romania should expect sanctions. The success of Macovei is that her successor, Tudor Chiuariu, understood her message and did not completely fail. He simply went to a lower level: to public prosecutor Doru Tulus. Tulus' great failing is that he does his job. And this has been confirmed by his boss, the attorney general and his colleagues ... In our delicate democracy, the vengeful grimace of persecuted justice is showing itself." (10/05/2007)

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All available articles from » Grigore Cartianu

Opinion polls in Sweden show the highest favourable ratings for the EU since the country entered the Union in 1995. Tommy Svensson asks the formerly staunch EU-sceptics in Sweden have changed their minds. "Maybe there's a connection between the climate debate and increased support for the EU. Because if the Swedes are asked what the EU should fight for, everyone mentions a survey by Synovate Temo about the environment. Swedes increasingly feel themselves to be part of the EU, and the fight against climate change might just become the cement that binds Europeans together in the future, since the original peace motivations are receding into the past." (10/05/2007)

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Catholic organisations have called for a demonstration on May 12th in Rome to defend "family values". The journalist and writer Beppe Severgnini explains why he doubts the grounds of this rally that has been baptised with an English name, 'Family Day'. "Granted, family remains the cement of Italian society. But are we sure that a demonstration needs to be organised in order to defend it? It seems to me that this is diminishing its importance. What kind of person goes down onto the street? Football fans out to party, frustrated dissidents, obscure minorities, those, for example, who go around collecting signatures to change the electoral law. ... Why doesn't family day suit me? Because of its English name? I don't think so. We are used to this linguistic sloth. The problem is more serious, it doesn't suit me because it doesn't strike me as charitable ... . Are we sure that this day isn't cruel for those suffering from solitude, failure and separation?" (10/05/2007)

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As Cannes is about to launch its 60th film festival on Wednesday, May 16th, the cultural correspondant Alan Riding wonders "If Cannes is more industrial fair than arts festival, what about the hundreds of other cultural festivals that fill Europe's summer calendar every year? Are they also about the business of, say, classical music, opera, theater and photography, or are they more authentic celebrations of an art form? At the same time, cultural festivals help sustain artists and performers when the concert halls, opera houses and theaters of many European cities close down for the summer. Thus, top opera stars can be heard belting out 'Aïda' in the Arena di Verona. ... More important from a creative point of view are the festivals in Avignon and Edinburgh, which are breeding grounds for new talent in theater. In both cities, high-profile productions are accompanied by hundreds of 'off' or 'fringe' performances that give young playwrights, directors and actors a chance to be noticed." (10/05/2007)

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Spanish super-chef Ferran Adrià, who runs the restaurant El Bulli on the Costa Brava, is taking part in this year's Documenta in Kassel. He tells Lothar Schmidt about his project for the exhibition. "The definition of art is a debate that is hundreds of years old. And the art of cuisine is also very old. There are two simple answers: First, something is art if the art world decides that it is art. Photography, for example, was not considered art until someone said, 'Listen, as of now photography can also be art.' The same with fashion, cinema, and so on. The other answer is: Art is anything that you decide it should be… I don't care if haute cuisine is art or not. In that respect I agree with Roger Buergel, the Documenta director. What I find good about the invitation is that it will lead to reflection of the issue. The experience you have in certain restaurants is comparable to experiences in the world of art." (10/05/2007)

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"But for a ruling by our masters in Brussels on Tuesday, it would have been illegal from 2010 to display the weights of goods for sale in pounds and ounces", notes the columnist Simon Heffer. "Ever since the prospect was first raised, there has been visceral opposition in this country to metrication. To the more historically minded it might just be a resistance to Bonapartism - it was under his aegis that the system was invented. For most of us, it is all about a profound distaste for the wanton destruction of a central part of our fast-vanishing culture. We are an old country. Our literature and our folksongs are peppered with references to traditional measurements. Our architecture, our towns and our landscape are all calibrated to miles, yards, feet and inches. ... But our people's passionate attachment to imperial measurements has nothing to do with sentiment. It is because we all understand them, and they work." (10/05/2007)

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