"The low voter turnout is proof of the disappointment and lack of hope of many who had expected a better life in a sovereign Kosovo following the end of the Serb invasion more than eight years ago," writes Andrej Ivanji. "Hashim Thaçi now has the task of changing this. This is the man who organised the armed uprising against the Serb state power in the forests and achieved in one year what the pacifist Ibrahim Rugova was unable to achieve in a decade: the de facto separation of Kosovo from Serbia. ... No government will be able to overcome Kosovo's economic depression in the foreseeable future. All that Thaçi can do is provide his people with their longed-for independence. He must and will do this to prevent the Kosovars from turning against him." (19/11/2007)

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Norbert Mappes-Niedik comments: "It's not extremism that has come to the fore in Kosovo, but a new generation - one tired of the ex-communist elite's stiff and empty declarations. But it would be premature to interpret the results as the triumph of a stable democracy, as Western diplomats are doing. Kosovo is far from being a democracy. The power does not emanate from the people, but from international diplomats. ... The stifling control of the bureaucrats leaves no room for responsibility, ideas, deep-rooted change, productive crises, independent initiatives in foreign policy or true reconciliation. The 'international community', which in the form of these officials rules over many countries, is not as altruistic as it pretends to be. This circle has huge vested interests, even if it's only the extension of its own contracts and projects." (19/11/2007)

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Martin Ehl asks whether the times of bloodshed will now return to the Balkans: "One thing's for sure: the Kosovars will pronounce independence as soon as possible. What will happen next is less certain. .... Over the next year Brussels will take over the administration of the province from the UN regardless of whether Kosovo is an independent state or not. But above all Europeans fear that Kosovo could turn into an avalanche of problems and even trigger a new conflict that would spread across the entire Balkan region. ... There is, however, no threat of a new war. All those involved are simply too exhausted for that. So what are the potential scenarios? Guerrilla attacks, spontaneous violent protests staged by frustrated jobless Kosovo-Albanians, the separation of the Republic of Serbia from Bosnia, a new division of Sarajevo? The EU has good reason to be on edge, but after the experiences of the past twenty years it can't deny the Kosovars the right to their own state." (19/11/2007)

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The daily is concerned about the precedent that would be set by the independence of Kosovo for other regions in Europe with independentist whims. "The results of the elections in Kosovo come as no surprise. ... But more than by this result, the future of Kosovo will be determined by the decision on its status ... . The intervention of the international community has led to the departure of numerous Serbes, turning them into even more of a minority and rendering independence all the more inevitable. Given the fact that Kosovo's belonging to Serbia has not been contested by the international community, independence will have a violation of the law as a starting point. Specifics will however take precedence over the law. In a Europe that is dividing itself - from Belgium to Great Britain (Scotland), via problems with the Galicians, Basques, and Catalans in Spain -, an independent Kosovo would be a dangerous precedent." (19/11/2007)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » South East Europe, » Serbia

The Belgian writer Koen Peeters delivered a 'Great European speech' at the closure of the first Brussels festival of philosophy, the last day of which was dedicated to Europe. In a very pro-European speech, he urges all Europeans to exchange more in order to better know one another. "We Europeans ... do we have to learn to live with one another and to speak to each other? And by extension to teach our countries to live together? ... It is all of our duty to discover our own Europe. The principal duty of all Europeans is to travel as if on a Monopoly board: as exemplary Europeans we should all have a conversation with a Latvian, a Pole, Spaniards. We should also visit Ireland, taste Greek cheese, etc. ... Everyone is entitled to one's own Europe, or rather is under the obligation to have their very own Europe, as the most individual expression of their most individual Europe. ... Europe: the good has been done, the best is yet to come." (19/11/2007)

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The Spanish journalist Francesc-Marc Alvaro insists on the necessity to reinforce European identity. "There exists a challenge that we have difficulty perceiving, and this despite its importance for the future of the edifice named Europe. A feeling of belonging needs to be created to draw together the 500 million people who currently live in this privileged area, this place of freedom, peace and social justice. ... According to the thinker Anthony Giddens, 'for the EU to blossom again, it is necessary for citizens to feel they belong to something and this something needs to be the European community'. The British thinker explains how a community must be aware of a common goal, must have a 'raison d'être'. Without this, the European ship will never be watertight and its thrust will always be hindered by a certain inertia." (19/11/2007)

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The Estonian daily is not surprised at the OCSE's decision not to send election observers to Russia after it had problems obtaining visas for them. It contends that democracy has been systematically undermined in Russia. "Here in Estonia we were very proud when the OCSE decided not to send a delegation of observers to monitor our elections. This decision was a clear message to Europe and the rest of the world that democracy and human rights are respected in Estonia. At the time Russia, of all countries, criticised the OCSE for its decision and demanded the continuation of the observer mission because the rights of the Russian minority were allegedly being ignored. But if Russia sees the OSCE as a guarantor of democracy, it's all the more regrettable that the Kremlin is now hindering the activities of the observers in its own country." (19/11/2007)

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A demonstration in favour of Belgian unity brought together several thousands of people on Sunday, November 18th in Brussels. François Heinderyckx, professor of political communication, is sceptical regarding the scope of the event. "The demonstration was broadly announced, on the French-speaking side, anyway, and in an engaging manner. It was a sunny day and the 30,000 took to the streets. This is far from negligible, but some comparison is necessary. ... While it is difficult to interpret the motives of demonstrators on November 18th, one might wonder whether the Flemish, of whom there were few, will not see in this relatively feeble protest, even if everyone interprets figures as they wish, encouragement to continue following their logic." (19/11/2007)

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Several tens of thousands of workers in Slovenia took to the streets on Saturday to demonstrate for higher pay after wage negotiations failed to produce a result. It was the largest demonstration since the country achieved independence in 1991. The demonstrators are annoyed that only managers, and not workers, are benefiting from the country's current economic growth. Bozena Kriznik comments: "The protests were vigorous, came at exactly the right time and presented an opportunity to repeat the workers' demands: a raise in all basic salaries and a share in corporate turnover. ... In particular the State, as (co-) owner of the larger companies, could set an example and reduce the shamefully high salaries of managers, bonuses for members of the board and other bonuses." (19/11/2007)

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"French unions are defending utterly outdated regulations", considers the progressive daily. "Contrary to the Netherlands, France has barely established a savings capital to finance retirement pensions and money therefore comes from the current treasury. With an increasingly ageing population, costs are increasing and France is now facing criticism from other countries of the Euro zone concerning the unhealthy state of its finances. The unions are defending special pension schemes because they are afraid that far more painful reforms will follow. ... It is high time for them to get back down to the drawing board to negotiate and cooperate in the reform of the French economy. This is also in the interest of the rest of western Europe ... . If Sarkozy looses France's power struggle now, it will be all the more difficult to continue reforming." (19/11/2007)

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The newspaper comments on the labour dispute of the Finnish nurses. 12.000 of them have threatened to hand in their notice: "In many respects, Finland is a country which is extremely willing to make compromises .... But then all of a sudden it's submerged in a class struggle - because that's what we're dealing with here. The salaries of employees in the country's health service sector are appallingly low, which explains why many Finns come to Sweden to work. ... In the long term Finland, as well as Sweden, will benefit from the fact that employees are daring to take this major step to get higher salaries. The reaction of the Finnish government illustrates how the powerful really perceive the - predominantly female - section of the working class that works in the public health sector: namely with a lack of respect. Up to now, perhaps." (17/11/2007)

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Lucia Annunziata looks back on the past few days of political events in Italy. "Let's say that it is possible to dream. The idea is that after a ten year duel, the age-old enemies, Romano Prodi and Silvio Berlusconi, are being converted into two fathers of the nation, together carrying the country towards change: electoral reform, a more flexible executive, the lowering of the costs of politics ... . Berlusconi's announcement of the creation of a new party [the Italian People's Party for Freedom] followed Prodi's victory at the Senate by a few hours [The 2008 budget was adopted by the Senate on November 15th]. These two events have the same effect: two men have been put back into favourable positions in their respective organisations after having been progressively marginalised over the past few months." (19/11/2007)

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Tomorrow, Mariann Fischer Boel, the EU's Agriculture Commissioner, will present her proposals for a "common agricultural policy". Hendrik Kafsack comments: "Boel has failed to address the crucial question of whether it's at all legitimate for the EU to continue to spend 50 billion euros in taxpayers' money on agricultural subsidies year after year. This question was justified even at times when prices were lower. After all, the danger that the community could starve, which was the reason the subsidies were created in the first place, no longer exists. It's even more justified now that prices for agricultural products are rising and budgets are getting tighter. More and more farmers can live without subsidies. And if the EU wants to help small-scale organic farmers it can do so for a fraction of the current budget. It could invest the rest of the money in research or - better still - refund the taxpayers." (19/11/2007)

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On November 18th, Greece and Turkey inaugurated the first gas pipeline to link the two countries. This seals a good economic relation and diversifies European gas supplies. For the daily, this inauguration "marks a big step towards Greece's future and the European future of Turkey. [Greek Prime Minister] Costas Caramanlis reiterated his support for Turkish accession, albeit under certain conditions. This pipeline will transport gas from Azerbaijan. But is there enough gas in this region to supply the entire international community ? This is the question. This is why Greece has good reason to become closer to Turkey, in order to secure the contract for the transport of gas from Iran once the political situation in that country becomes more stable." (19/11/2007)

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More from the press review on the subject » Trade, » Greece, » Europe, » Turkey

The daily underlines how difficult it is for the press to be impartial in periods of massive social protest such as that which France is currently going through. "This is a classic example of the type of situation where journalists fail to please anyone. Passengers who are suffering from the strike feel their plight is insufficiently highlighted. The strikers consider that their demands have been rejected from the start and that their motives for opposing the reforms are not given fair coverage. In a climate of general suspicion towards the omnipresent media, the temptation is to suspect prejudice. ... Cases of verbal assault have been noted. Reporters have been vindictively singled out, or prevented from doing their work. Encouraged by websites that use and abuse the denunciation of journalists, all parties are blaming the media for their own incapacity to convince public opinion." (17/11/2007)

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Science-fiction novelist Brian Aldiss ponders how the SF genre is evolving in modern times. "For a while after the second world war, a spirit of optimism prevailed in SF magazines. ... All was stimulating and hopeful. But then the future went the other way - a duller, yet more dangerous way. ... Here is today, 2007, with its diseased ideas of drugs, Darfur disputes and suicide bombers. The truth is that we are at last living in an SF scenario. Little wonder the tiger is almost extinct, the polar bear doomed. How do you think the algae feel, in the great wastes of warming ocean? Can you not hear the ecosystems crashing down? Ideal fodder for SF, one might think. However, one might not if one was brought up on Isaac Asimov and AE van Vogt. SF is not designed for realism but for imagination. Our new and creepy scenario is already in the hands of the scientists, if not MGM." (19/11/2007)

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The border between Poland and Russia runs right through the middle of the Vistula Spit, which separates the Vistula lagoon from the Baltic Sea. Only Russia has a connection from the lagoon to the Baltic. Shortly before its dissolution, the Polish government under Jarosław Kaczyński therefore decided to construct a canal that would give the Polish side direct access to the sea. However the planned canal would run through an EU conservation area. Adam Wajrak comments: "Before we start making absurd comparisons between the Vistula Spit and the Rospuda valley dispute or quarrelling with Brussels, we should pause to reflect on who would use the canal. ... I understand that getting the better of the Russians is a priceless experience but I'm afraid our investment, which would merely allow a couple of sailing boats and ships to sail from Elblag into the Gdansk harbour a couple of times a year, won't impress them. And we would have 400 million złoty [about 109 million euros] less in our pockets." (19/11/2007)

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All available articles from » Adam Wajrak