Against the background of the conflict in the Caucasus, the conservative newspaper Magyar Nemzet sees the need for a "reappraisal" of European security policy: "The EU's room to manoeuvre is best demonstrated by the fact that the role of the ambitious French president and EU Council president is currently limited to that of messenger. ... We must dispel the illusions that established themselves in the heads of Western decision makers at the end of the Cold War which resulted in overly optimistic and flawed security policy. And above all, Europe too must rid itself of these illusions. ... The countries of Central Eastern Europe must not turn their backs on historical experience, and it would be wrong to expect them to do so. If the Russians have 'paranoid views', why shouldn't they? ... Today the decisive question for the countries of Eastern Europe is whether the EU can implement an effective and uniform security policy within the foreseeable future, one that provides protection from growing Russian influence in the region." (18/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Gábor László Zord

In a guest article for Le Figaro newspaper, French President and current EU Council President Nicolas Sarkozy defends the peace plan negotiated for the Caucasus conflict, and criticises the shortcomings of EU institutions in dealing with such international crises. "This plan has not solved all the problems. ... But it has concluded a ceasefire between the two countries. ... If the Treaty of Lisbon were in force, the European Union would have institutions capable of dealing with an international crisis. ... This reconfirms my conviction that Europe's most important mission is to protect the Europeans." (17/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Nicolas Sarkozy

Russia's political and economic pressure on those countries it refers to as its "close neighbours" prompts Austrian daily Der Standard to call for the process of integration of states like Georgia into the West to be accelerated: "The restoration of the Soviet empire minus its ideology is a concept that has been conjured up by Russia's foreign policymakers since the beginning of the Putin era in 2000 - elegantly packaged, for sure - for example as the demand for more balance in the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as regards vote monitoring or human rights reports. ... The 'Pax Russa' aims to create a system of dependent states around Russia. ... Georgia's destruction is a fact that not even the West can prevent any longer. Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the two secessionist provinces, are lost to the central government and in the long term to Georgia's inhabitants there. Nonetheless, the 'Pax Russa' cannot change Georgia's pro-Western political course. It is conceivable that the Caucasian republic could join Nato, which Moscow is trying to prevent, and draw closer to the EU once Michail Saakaschvili's era has ended. This would be a vital message for those countries within reach of 'Russia's peace'." (18/08/2008)

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

The political career of Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili is over, writes Delo newspaper: "The renovator of 2003 was quickly shown to be a semi-dictator ... And his days are perhaps numbered. ... The mood in Georgia shows that the war-shocked population would widely support a change of government." Early elections could conceivably see Georgians electing a new government opposed to NATO entry, the paper argues. "In this way the Georgians would help Russia close another door to the US. ... The EU and above all Germany are dependent on Russia economically. Germany, Italy and France blocked Georgia's NATO entry last year, the three countries that did the most business with Russia last year. The long-term interests of the EU lie in its neighbours developing more or less functioning democracies, free media and transparent governments. US-backed President Saakashvili brought none of this about." (18/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Polona Frelih

In the aftermath of the war in the Caucasus the daily Diário de Notícias fears that military spending will increase all over the world: "Russia and Georgia fought only a small war which nonetheless was sufficient to show that the world is still a dangerous place and that the times of peace that were promised ... at the end of the Cold War in 1991 are still a fata morgana. Russians and Americans have not boosted their arsenal of nuclear weapons in recent years, but India, Pakistan and North Korea have reaffirmed their status as 'nuclear powers'. ... It is alarming to observe a worldwide process of rearmament. ... Russia's investments in weapons went up by 15 percent last year. ... China has tripled its investments over the past decade. ... In view of Russia's show of strength, which has frightened many countries (above all the Baltic states, Poland and the Ukraine), there is a risk that spending on weapons will increase even further - above all in the Eastern European countries where the US plans to install its controversial missile defence system." (16/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Global

Poland and the US have reached agreement on the stationing of a missile defence system aimed at fending off a potential attack from Iran. The daily De Volkskrant writes that the agreement comes at an inconvenient moment in view of the crisis in the Caucasus: "[The defence system] has yet to prove its true value; it is supposed to offer protection against a danger that does not yet exist but will place an increased burden on the already tense relations with Moscow. ... Following the gesture of solidarity with Warsaw a gesture of understanding towards Moscow would not be an unnecessary luxury in this area, particularly considering that the defence system will not be fully operational until 2012 at the earliest. There are many arguments in favour of postponing construction of the facilities in Eastern Europe and examining whether it would not be possible to ward off the Iranian threat through increased diplomatic and economic pressure instead." (18/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Eastern Europe, » U.S.

At the request of the Serbian government, the UN General Assembly is to request the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of the secession of Kosovo. die tageszeitung newspaper sees hidden political manoeuvring behind the initiative: "The Russians, for example, have always supported Serbia and warned the Kosovo Albanians from a putatively illegal secession. ... Meanwhile the 'territorial integrity of states' is in everyone's mind, at least concerning Georgia. These inconsistencies could lead to there being no majority in the UN General Assembly in favour of an ICJ opinion. Perhaps the Serbian government is even speculating that this will be the case. For Serbia, the key thing is not to give up Serbia's claim to Kosovo without a fight - while avoiding annoying its new partners in the West. ... Certainly it would be better if the UN court was able to present the criteria for a legitimate secession. Although such an opinion would not be binding, it could also not be ignored." (18/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » Serbia, » Kosovo
All available articles from » Christian Rath

World Water Week begins today in Stockholm. Researchers and experts from all over the world will meet in the Swedish capital to discuss the consequences of dwindling water supplies worldwide. The daily Dagens Nyheter notes that poor countries are the worst affected: "Climate, food, water and energy are all closely interconnected and call for a holistic understanding of the system among those who are working towards sustainable solutions. Climate change threatens to aggravate the unjust distribution of water supplies, and the responsibility for feeding the world population thus lies with those regions in our part of the world that have a more favourable climate." (18/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Jenny Jewert

"Spain is against nuclear power but its opposition is weakening," the Spanish daily El Mundo comments with reference to a recent survey: "Spain's heavy energy dependence is still one of the greatest hurdles to our development. Above all in times of crisis like the current one - with oil prices at astronomic levels - each and every citizen is feeling the squeeze in their own pockets. ... And yet if there is one thing all the governments of the past 30 years have in common it is the lack of courage to tackle the energy problem seriously and give atomic energy higher priority as almost all our European neighbours who are currently building new power plants are doing. In our country ... half of the Spanish are opposed to all applications of this energy source. ... [However] the citizens also reject the double standards in this area, because 53 percent find it makes no sense to refuse to build new nuclear power plants yet at the same time import nuclear power from France." (18/08/2008)

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Le Monde newspaper describes how democracy  does not necessarily accompany economic prosperity: "One of the sad lessons of this spring and summer is that a country's prosperity does not necessarily make its leaders any laxer. China and Russia have both experienced extraordinary growth in recent years, but this has not prevented China from crushing demonstrations in Tibet or Russia from bombing Georgia. ... We are far from the idealised worlds, the much aspired end of history, in which improving living standards, developing trade relations and opening to foreign capital spontaneously make governments less autocratic and more peaceable. ... In fact the opposite is the case: increased national wealth in a country seems to be accompanied by a concurrent rise in its leaders' feelings of omnipotence. ... And what is even more disappointing: while economic prosperity does not make a regime any less authoritarian, democracy also seems to have no positive effect on growth rates." (16/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Social movements, » Trade, » Economic Policy, » Weltanschauung, » Russia, » Global, » China
All available articles from » Pierre-Antoine Delhommais

The daily Helsingin Sanomat comments on the relationship between security and social and economic development in international politics. "Security and development have become ... more closely bound up with each other in recent years. ... If one factor is lacking it leads ... to conflicts, terrorism and criminality. ... Establishing security and social stability is the key to permanently mastering the challenges of extreme inequality. ... Here is an example: ... The international community sees war veterans above all as a security risk. ... One approach to integrating them into society would be to give veterans ... vocational training and employment. ... There are no easy solutions. ... True reconciliation, equal opportunities and wider participation of society can only be achieved if an adequate number of local political figures commit themselves to moving towards these goals step by step." (18/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Lalli Metsola

The daily Jyllands-Posten takes a look at the ways the European Central Bank (ECB) can react to the dangers of inflation and looming recession. "While Europe's economy was successful the ECB was able to stick to its interest rate policy without provoking major criticism. But the threat of recession along with growing unemployment and other economic consequences has faced the ECB with a dilemma: which disease to tackle first - inflation or the recession? Many European politicians take it for granted that the recession is the most pressing problem. This is why the ECB should follow the example of the American Federal Reserve and lower interest rates in order to improve conditions for European families whose private consumption is vital for the well being of Europe's economy. ... If the ECB does indeed lower interest rates later this year, as some economists have predicted, it will only do so once it sees clear signs that inflation is slowing down." (18/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Economic Policy, » Financial Markets, » Europe

After their sharp increase in recent months, prices for crude oil and other raw materials are now on the decline. In view of this development, the Spanish business newspaper Cinco Días sees hope for the European economy. "Both factors - cheaper raw materials and the falling euro - are strong arguments in favour of an upswing in the European and Spanish economies. The [price] rise of products linked to oil and food prices will slacken, and lead to a relaxation of interest rates. And the services offered by European enterprises will regain the appeal they lost with the strong euro." (18/08/2008)

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The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung calls the top French politicians' handling of the visit by the Dalai Lama in France a "pitiable balancing act. ... President Sarkozy is not about to endanger nuclear deals with China, and has offered the Tibetan religious leader a meeting with his wife. And foreign minister Bernard Kouchner, who was always clear on what human rights were in the past, let it be known he had no time for the Dalai Lama. Of course, Ségolène Royal had no intention of losing this opportunity. The defeated socialist presidential candidate received the Dalai Lama, although her message had been entirely different during the election campaign. And all of a sudden perhaps Kouchner does have time. All the while the Dalai Lama smiles politely at this ignoble game. He is used to his presence giving politicians high blood pressure." (18/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » France, » Asia

In the Italian daily La Repubblica, British writer and TV producer John Lloyd responds to the British daily The Independent's accusation that Italy is rife with bans nowadays. "I find it difficult to believe that my illustrious colleagues at The Independent are talking of the same Italy I know. ... Unlike Italy, where social titles, rank and courtesy are still deeply rooted, the United Kingdom often demonstrates a rather confused behaviour in the social sphere. ... To emphasise the prevalence of bureaucratic regulations and social norms that ban any form of enjoyment is to misjudge Italian society. The cliché that Italians have a happy disposition is well-founded. ... We envy the Italians their capacity for fun and drama. It may be true that the rules of society control and also restrict, but seldom for long. In Italy the desire for pleasure is stronger." (18/08/2008)

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All available articles from » John Lloyd

Luxury dwellings are being built in the Berlin district of Kreuzberg - much of whose population has a low standard of living - which for security reasons have parking spaces on the upper floors. De Standaard newspaper comments: "Why don't people who are so afraid of their surroundings that they don't even want to walk from their cars to the front door just move to another neighbourhood? Rich people need an audience, they need looks of admiration and envy. They feel especially secure when they know that wolves are prowling outside their 'gated community'. ... The elevators for the luxury cars can lift almost five tons, meaning the armoured limousines can also come upstairs. But what happens when the lift is busy, or worse still, broken down? The inhabitants will be forced to take the stairs, and walk (unprotected) among all the beggars and loitering youths to get a cab. All at once they will be humans in the midst of other humans, and in need of trust." (18/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Oscar van den Boogaard