"How should the West react" to the conflict in the Caucasus? ask US diplomat Richard Holbrooke and Ronald D. Asmus, director of the Brussels office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, in the pages of the daily Sydsvenska Dagbladet. "First of all, we can help Georgia defend its territorial integrity within its own borders and rebuild Tbilisi. Secondly, the West should realize that Georgia's neighbour Russia is no neutral peacekeeper. For a long time now, Moscow has been using its international mandate to carry out neo-imperialist policies. Instead of allowing Russia this mandate, the West should insist that neutral UN troops monitor the ceasefire. Thirdly, the West should work actively to counter Russia's influence on its neighbours – particularly on Ukraine, which in all probability is Moscow's next target for extending its influence. The USA and EU must be more clear on this point, so that Ukraine and Georgia are not considered some kind of grey zone." (13/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Sweden, » Russia, » Georgian Republic

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev defends Russia's action in The Guardian: "Russia had to respond. To accuse it of aggression against 'small, defenceless Georgia' is not just hypocritical but shows a lack of humanity. ... By declaring the Caucasus, a region that is thousands of miles from the American continent, a sphere of its 'national interest', the US made a serious blunder. Of course, peace in the Caucasus is in everyone's interest. But it is simply common sense to recognise that Russia is rooted there by common geography and centuries of history. Russia is not seeking territorial expansion, but it has legitimate interests in this region. ... The international community's long-term aim could be to create a sub-regional system of security and cooperation that would make any provocation, and the very possibility of crises such as this one, impossible. Building this type of system would be challenging and could only be accomplished with the cooperation of the region's countries themselves. Nations outside the region could perhaps help, too - but only if they take a fair and objective stance." (13/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » Georgian Republic
All available articles from » Mikhail Gorbachev

De Standaard newspaper criticises European reactions to the conflict in the Caucasus. "The justifications for the Russian action that we are now hearing from some Europeans, led by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, must simply be condemned. Europe is letting itself be blackmailed by Moscow, which is only too ready to brandish the weapon of energy [supplies]. If Europe stands for anything, it must also defend its values. It has the moral duty to accompany countries on its borders on the difficult path to development, freedom and democracy. ... Anyone who defends Putin's action must accept that more is at stake here than the status of a small smuggler's den. How believable is the European Union, if it allows small countries on its borders to be forced back into the big Russian empire?" (13/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » Europe
All available articles from » Evita Neefs

The current President of the European Council, Nicolas Sarkozy, has proposed the deployment of an EU peacekeeping force to the Caucaus. The daily paper La Repubblica is musing over a possible EU peace mission: "It is out of the question that Nicolas Sarkozy's proposed peace troops would march under the flag of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, given Russian irritation at Tbilisi's bid for acceptance in NATO." Most likely, "troops would be provided by those western countries that have the best relationship with Russia - Germany, France and Italy. ... Understandably, Russia does not want participation from America, the countries of the former Warsaw Pact or the former Soviet republics. This will also mean disappointment for Estonia, one of the first countries that offered assistance. ... As in Lebanon, the mission will be carried out in consultation with the rival states. It will not forcefully impose peace, but rather monitor and safeguard it." (13/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » EU Policy, » Russia, » Europe, » Georgian Republic
All available articles from » Giampaolo Cadalanu

The daily paper Les Echos analyses the decisive role the European Union could play regarding the conflict in the Caucasus – despite the differing positions of member states: "President Sarkozy's shuttle diplomacy between Moscow and Tbilisi is highly risky. President Bush's weakness at the sad conclusion of his mandate puts the European Union in the front row when it comes to replacing weapons with diplomacy in Georgia. ... The EU 27 hold all the aces when it comes to getting the Kremlin's ear. Especially in the economic sense. ... There is still time before Moscow renounces international investors, of whom the Europeans are the upper echelon. ... Ultimately, Russia wants to bring an end to its years of sitting on the fence, and enter the World Trade Organization. ... But the question remains as to whether the Europeans will play their aces, which assumes they will speak with one voice. And there is nothing less certain than that." (13/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » Europe, » Georgian Republic
All available articles from » Françoise Crouïgneau

Poland's left-liberal daily Gazeta Wyborcza criticizes EU-Council President Nicolas Sarkozy as having been too soft on his Russian counterpart Dmitri Medvedev in Moscow. Sarkozy did not speak for Poles: "Old Europe does not listen to Poles, Lithuanians and Ukrainians. Old Europe does not want to mess things up with Russia, and it does not consider the inviolability of Georgia's borders important enough to aggravate relations with Russia. ... We can explain forever that [our position] has nothing to do with Russophobia, but rather with years of experience. So, after Georgia, if the time comes [for Russia] to browbeat Europe over Moldavia and other states, we will happily be able to say 'we told you so.' We will still have our self-respect. Only: Poland's security will be guaranteed by real alliances built on common interests, and not by moral arguments." (13/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » EU Policy, » Poland, » Russia, » Europe, » Georgian Republic
All available articles from » Bartosz Węglarczyk

The latest EU Commission monitoring report on Romania was quite negative. Romanian president Traian Băsescu has now announced to the parliamentary party leaders that something has to happen by July 2009 so that the EU Commission no longer will be scrutinizing the country. The daily paper Evenimentul Zilei criticizes the move: "Băsescu considers the monitoring 'relatively humiliating' and 'every EU member' has 'the right to reject commentary that displeases them'. In other words, the president is sick and tired of European functionaries threatening to take away the baby bottle if we do not behave. Does anyone believe that Romanian politicians will be able to bring the deficit noted by Brussels under control within the next 11 months? Especially given that the coming parliamentary elections are in November, followed by the reshuffling of the government, which in the best-case scenario will take until December, and then in the spring the madness of the upcoming presidential elections begins. I am afraid that Băsescu is trying to trigger a political offensive that will cause the EU Commission to close its eyes to the situation in Romania. The parties could consolidate, not to solve the problems in the justice system but to bring an end to discussion about the degree of corruption. Because that's the old fear of Romanian politicians who suggest that Romania is no more corrupt than any other European nation." (13/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Europe, » Romania
All available articles from » Mircea Marian

After the sanctions of the EU Commission, Bulgaria's conservative opposition parties are planning a unified protest against the government. The event is to be announced with a petition on September 6, the day of Bulgarian Unification, and begin on September 22, the country's day of independence. Dnevnik newspaper comments: "After the extremely critical report by the European Commission on Bulgaria, everyone is clear that the governing three-way coalition has made a fool of itself. It is as if the country were caught in a political eddy. ... Those in power have come up with an action plan full of European phrases, while the opposition plans a symbolic holiday that will honour the unification. ... Instead of expecting too much from this symbolic date, the opposition should follow the imperatives of the day. These dates would not have become symbolic if the heroes of yore had waited for ceremonial occasions." (13/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Bulgaria

Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero plans to give voting rights in local elections to migrants from countries outside the EU, a move that is also being debated in France. Philosopher Robert Redeker opposes these initiatives in Le Figaro: "Does it make sense, as the [French] Socialist Party envisages and as Zapatero's government plans in Spain, to give [immigrants] voting rights in local elections and to deny them for national ones? ... the difference between the citizen, a member of the political body and the simple taxpaying inhabitant is not only of a material, but also of a symbolic nature: citizenship. Because this is a symbol, it creates a far stronger connection than mere material living conditions. ... There is no strong argument in favour of voting rights for migrants. ... Introducing them would endanger the indivisibility of the republic, ... [and] render nationality obsolete." (12/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Migration, » Integration, » France, » Spain
All available articles from » Robert Redeker

The weekly political magazine Elsevier is warning of the results of increasing immigration to the Netherlands from Eastern Europe: "In principle, it could be a healthy development if Eastern Europeans were to fill gaps in the job market in the Netherlands, but immigration has another side to it. Not all Eastern Europeans want to return to their home countries after their work is done, and what is worse, some of the Eastern European migrant workers have applied for jobless benefits in the Netherlands. But the Netherlands already has enough welfare recipients. ... The old story of guest workers is threatening to repeat itself. This fall, the cabinet will decide whether the requirement for work permits for Romanian and Bulgarian workers should be dropped ... as is the case in Poland already. Let the latest increase in Eastern European immigration be a warning to us: If Romanians and Bulgarians are permitted to resettle unhindered, their numbers in the Netherlands will rapidly rise, as will all the familiar problems." (13/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Migration, » Integration, » Netherlands, » Eastern Europe
All available articles from » Robert Stiphout

Corriere della Sera newspaper comments on the decision by the French EU Council presidency to hold a summit meeting on immigration at the beginning of November in Vichy. During World War II the city was the seat of the French regime under Philippe Pétain, which collaborated with the German National Socialists. The newspaper suspects "banal political motives" behind the decision. "It is no accident that since 1945 Vichy has not been host to a single international event, let alone on such explosive topics as intolerance and racism. Vichy is the touristic capital of Auvergne and the electoral constituency of  immigration minister Brice Hortefeux. The minister wants to satisfy the region and fill the hotels ... with international guests. Once the stigma of collaboration has been relegated to the past, it will once more be able to sell its mineral water and beauty products internationally. But did the rehabilitation have to begin with a conference on the hunt for illegal immigrants?" (12/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Migration, » History, » France, » Europe
All available articles from » Stefano Montefiori

Journalist David Brooks describes in the International Herald Tribune the difference between Western individualism and Asian collectivism: "You can create a global continuum with the most individualistic societies - like the United States or Britain - on one end, and the most collectivist societies - like China or Japan - on the other. ... Individualistic societies have tended to do better economically. We in the West have a narrative that involves the development of individual reason and conscience during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, and then the subsequent flourishing of capitalism. According to this narrative, societies get more individualistic as they develop. ... But what happens if collectivist societies snap out of their economic stagnation? What happens if collectivist societies, especially those in Asia, rise economically and come to rival the West? A new sort of global conversation develops. ... The opening ceremony in Beijing was a statement in that conversation. It was part of China's assertion that development doesn't come only through Western, liberal means, but also through Eastern and collective ones. ... The rise of China isn't only an economic event. It's a cultural one. The ideal of a harmonious collective may turn out to be as attractive as the ideal of the American Dream. ... It's certainly a useful ideology for aspiring autocrats." (13/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Philosophy, » Weltanschauung, » Asia, » Europe, » U.S., » Global
All available articles from » David Brooks

Les Echos newspaper analyses the dispute between the EU member states and the European Central Bank (ECB): "Conflicts over the ECB's interest rate policy have increased over the summer. ... Whether a coincidence or not, shortly before the start of the EU Council presidency, Nicholas Sarkozy stepped into the breach and spoke out against a rise of the base rate. ... For hardliners, a rise in prices has a depressive effect and engenders stagflation, which weighs heavily on individuals' prosperity and ulitmately impoverishes them. For the European monetary authority, the Eurozone takes precedence over the national economies. ... No doubt our politicians, regardless of their political stripe, will soon denounce the European Currency Unit as responsible for a new slow down. ... What better scapegoat than the European Central Bank?" (13/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Europe
All available articles from » Béatrice Guedj

The Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair has announced it will stop selling tickets through Internet travel agencies, as it disagrees with their terms and conditions. In addition the airline is threatening not to honour tickets already purchased in this way. La Vanguardia newspaper disapproves: "Ryanair does have the right to sell its tickets where it feels appropriate. ... But it seems less in the right to declare as invalid tickets that already have been reserved and purchased, as it is threatening to do. That is an extreme measure, one which must be dealt with by the responsible authorities for trade and consumer protection in the individual countries. ... Ryanair should change its business tactic at once." (13/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Infrastructure / Travel and Transport, » Corporations, » Ireland, » Europe

While the Catholic weekly Famiglia Cristiana took an extremely critical tone toward the Italian government last week, the US news magazine Newsweek celebrated Berlusconi's "Miracle In 100 Days". Those differing views come under the loupe of the daily paper La Repubblica: "The administration should concern itself with the content of the criticism, not spout off a psalm about ideological prejudices and socialist infiltration." Many citizens share the opinion of the Christian paper, La Repubblica writes, but not the "superficial and generously triumphal proclamations of the American magazine Newsweek." It has to do with "a controlled operation of image-building, conducive to transatlantic export of the smoke and mirrors of the 'made in Italy' label, but it fails to address the removal of trash and the fight against criminality." Italy's government is based "officially on the power of the media, particularly television. Anyone who does not accept Berlusconi's proclaimed values or non-values of Communism driven to an extreme will be excommunicated – like Famiglia Cristiana." (13/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Print media, » Media policy, » Italy
All available articles from » Giovanni Valentini

The organisers of the Olympic Games in Beijing have admitted that they manipulated the live television images of the opening ceremony, and that the performance of the young singer Lin Miaoke was lip-syncing. This manipulation shows China's true face, writes the daily Correio da Manhã: "China used the opening ceremony to present a positive image of itself to the world. And the world bought it. But not all the images were real. ... This shows what China is like: an economic giant, the new factory of the world, which wants a perfect image regardless of how little it has to do with reality. Outside the Olympic perimeter factories produce for the world market at ridiculously low prices because their workers are all but slaves. The Chinese live in polluted cities because the regime has no time for environmental protection. The idea of human rights is foreign to Beijing, because even though the regime is communist, it promotes and protects the wildest form of capitalism, heeding no other values than those of business." (13/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Sport, » Economic Policy, » China
All available articles from » Armando Esteves Pereira