Following the murder of Gayle Williams the liberal daily The Independent writes that territory should not be ceded to the Taliban. "NGOs providing help with reconstruction were always an integral part of the Nato strategy for Afghanistan. ... Success here was seen as essential to convince Afghans that Nato forces were not hostile and that the intervention was worthwhile. ... If insurgents terrorise the NGOs out of the country, it will be a disaster for Western policy and for the many Afghans who stood to benefit. The territory – in every sense – will have been ceded to the Taliban. Unless reconstruction can be made more effective, seven years of Western intervention will be seen as leaving only penury and disorder in its wake. As Nato reviews its operations in Afghanistan, dovetailing the military and civilian efforts must be a priority." (21/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Asia

Following the most recent attacks in Afghanistan the Italian daily Corriere della Sera concludes that no one is safe any more. "Nowadays any excuse is good enough to justify killing foreigners in Afghanistan. It makes no difference whether they're NATO soldiers or businessmen who have come to Kabul to sign contracts with [the president of the Afghan interim government Hamid] Karzai, UN officials who want to support the process of normalisation or, worse still, representatives of human rights organisations who may even be followers of the Christian faith. This is the argument the Taliban used to ... justify the murder of Gayle Williams. The Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid accused Gayle Williams in the local press of having come to Afghanistan to spread Christianity - a task which plays no role whatsoever in the mission of the charitable human rights organisation Serve. The climate of total insecurity has been aggravated by the suicide attack on a German patrol that formed part of the NATO contingent in Kundus."    (21/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Asia
All available articles from » Lorenzo Cremonesi

The daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung believes the deployment of German troops in Afghanistan is still necessary despite the dangers it entails. "The latest attack on German soldiers - less than two months ago a soldier was killed in a bomb attack near Kundus - sadly shows that the security situation and the general state of affairs in Afghanistan are in a downwards spiral. There is no patent recipe for reversing this trend. And although it is appropriate when two German soldiers are killed while fulfilling a peace mission to pause and reflect for a moment, we must also remind ourselves that their deployment in a far-off country serves German security interests. Perhaps a more sober calculation than hitherto should be made of what the operation in Afghanistan should ultimately achieve. Creating stable conditions there is, however, a task for which the Afghans continue to require foreign help." (21/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Germany, » Asia
All available articles from » Horst Bacia

The German armed forces are paying a high price for their part in the mission in Afghanistan, writes the daily Der Standard: "The suicide bomber who blew himself up next to a German army convoy on Monday obviously didn't care if he killed five children in the process. The Bundeswehr will not give up because of this. ... The reconstruction mission in this Central Asian country is in many respects a revolution for the Germans - hard to comprehend and with an uncertain outcome owing to its size, geographical distance, the more than 30 German soldiers who have died since it started and finally because of the distance from the US and its military operations. Nonetheless the German government is resolutely holding on to its belief that the peaceful presence of the German armed forces in the northern provinces of Afghanistan has a stabilising influence and will therefore draw people to the German side. But the constantly deteriorating security situation is showing Berlin that this is not the reality here." (21/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Germany
All available articles from » Markus Bernath

The daily De Standaard welcomes the acquittal of Abou Jahjah, the leader of the Belgian Muslim party Arab-European League (AEL) who was accused of inciting serious riots following the murder of a Muslim. "The riots began three hours before Abou Jahjah arrived on the scene. Credible witnesses ... have confirmed that Abou Jahjah repeatedly implored the rioters to calm down. The 4,000-page document is an empty box apart from two dubious statements made by police officers. ... Perhaps back in 2003 or 2004, when the demonisation of the AEL triggered shock waves in public opinion, Abou Jahja could have been lured into the trap with this 'evidence'. ... But now too much information about the events and the demonisation of the AEL has made its way into the public domain. ... Nonetheless, there will be a sequel to this drama. The European Court of Human Rights will pronounce harsh judgement on Belgium for this political trial." (21/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Belgium
All available articles from » Keltoum Belorf

German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday paid a visit to her Czech counterpart Mirek Topolánek in Prague, who suffered a crushing defeat in regional elections last weekend and is to face a vote of no confidence tomorrow. The conservative daily Lidové Noviny voices doubts that Merkel's visit can serve any meaningful purpose: "The prime minister was not lying when he confirmed [to Merkel] the Czechs' intention of ratifying the Treaty of Lisbon. But can Merkel believe that this will happen within a few weeks? No, Czech approval for the Lisbon [treaty] depends on the survival of Topolánek's government. What will happen if the prime minister goes?" (21/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Domestic Policy, » Germany, » Czech Republic
All available articles from » Zbyněk Petráček

The daily Le Figaro praises the performance of French President Nicolas Sarkozy as representative of the presidency of the Council of the European Union during his visit to the United States: "In his desire to establish a new basis for the capitalism of the 21st century by defining a new ethic, giving up destructive practices, adopting new rules and reestablishing responsibility it was not easy for Sarkozy to impose his will. The Americans have still not understood why the roof of Wall Street collapsed on their heads. ... This first European victory achieved by Nicolas Sarkozy does not close the chapter on the crisis. The state leader now needs to engage in discussions with his European partners: he must secure the support of the powerful states Britain and Germany and at the same time take account of the feelings of the smaller states, particularly those of the former Eastern Bloc ... , who are always afraid of being excluded from the negotiations conducted by the big states." (20/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Economic Policy, » Financial Markets, » France, » Europe, » U.S.
All available articles from » Etienne Mougeotte

Last week the United States lifted the visa requirements for seven European states, but negotiations aimed at doing the same for Greece broke down. The daily TA NEA sees this as an "act of revenge towards Greece," citing the fact that "a series of East European countries have been included in this program [entry to the US without a visa]. But this no doubt happened not because these countries showed greater bureaucratic willingness to do this, but because they were being rewarded for their complete dedication to the dictates of American policy. At the same time it is clear that ... the Greek position in the name dispute with the FYROM [Republic of Macedonia] has had a negative impact. ... Our trans-Atlantic partner was probably also annoyed by Greece's decision to co-operate with Russia over the [South-Stream] gas pipeline." (21/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Greece, » U.S.

In view of the global financial crisis former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer calls in his column in the weekly Die Zeit for an economic government for the EU. "Europe and its national governments are enjoying their new ability to act, and not without reason either. For who would have dared to predict that in the end it would be the quarrelsome Europeans and not the world power the United States that would determine the direction of policy in stemming the global financial crisis? ... So far - thanks to the euro, the ECB, Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy - Europe has shown itself to be capable of action. However, the global financial crisis and the global economic crisis will together pose far greater challenges for Europe. Yet at the same time this is a major opportunity for the EU. For a crisis of this scale the nation states are simply too small. Only the EU as a unity of states with the ability to act can protect the interests of all Europeans - including those outside the Eurozone and even those outside the EU. The Europeans have created strong institutions in the euro and ECB, yet they lack a strong political superstructure for the approaching economic crisis . ... If the crisis in the financial markets continues and ushers in a dramatic slump in the real economy, even the EU may fall into danger very rapidly if it is unable to respond politically. There is therefore an urgent need for macroeconomic and fiscal co-ordination at the European level, particularly since the EU Commission is currently proving to be almost a complete flop. ... In the lengthy and profound crisis that lies ahead the EU needs an economic government, and Germany, Europe's largest and most important national economy, should resolutely lead the way." (21/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » Europe, » Global
All available articles from » Joschka Fischer

In the Portuguese weekly Expresso Henrique Raposo calls for China and Asia to be offered seats in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the group of leading industrialised nations, which as the G8 consists of the US, Canada, Japan, Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Russia: "In the 21st century financial stability can only function in a tandem between the Western world and Asia. This is why the West must cede part of its power within international institutions to the Asian countries. But this reform is a subject that arouses unease among the Western elite because it confirms the decline of the West and puts Asians at the top of the world hierarchy along with Europeans and Americans. ... Since 1945 there has been an agreement between the Americans and the Europeans under which the IMF always has a European president and the World Bank always has an American one. This pact brings to mind a meal-time scene in a big family: the adults (Europe and America sitting at one table) while the children (China, India, etc.) sit at the other . ... But Asia has grown too big to continue sitting at the children's table. ... More chairs should be added to the adults' table so that China, India and others can join them. If the West doesn't exchange the square table of 1945 for a round one in 2008, the Asians will make their own table at which only Asia will have a place. And at some point the Western nations will be forced to take a seat at the children's table." (20/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Fiscal Policy, » Economic Policy, » Asia, » Europe, » U.S., » Global
All available articles from » Henrique Raposo

Commenting on the financial crisis in Russia the daily The Times speculates on whether Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is planning to exploit the financial hardship of the oligarchs who have suffered major losses. "Vladimir Putin is probably not looking at renationalisation. He has never shown the slightest interest in a return to communism, and is too shrewd to let outdated ideology return through the back door. He is determined, however, to keep Russian industry in Russian hands - and therefore will not allow foreign carpetbaggers to buy up the shares at bargain prices. ... Temporary nationalisation gives Mr Putin ... an extraordinary opportunity. Any move that appears to remove power and assets from the oligarchs will be wildly popular with voters, who deeply resent this clique of the super-rich. But when the economy and the stock market recover, the assets can again be privatised, at a large profit to the Kremlin .... And the oligarchs who have been rescued will remain for ever in Mr Putin's debt and under his control." (21/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Financial Markets, » Russia

The Spanish business newspaper Cinco Días sees the first signs of recovery in the prolonged financial crisis: "In trading between banks, where financial institutions lend each other money, the first signs of recovery are discernable. The price for which they are prepared to lend money has fallen noticeably since the EU adopted its rescue package for the banking sector, even if the more secure short-term loans still tend to be favoured over the more risky long-term ones. ... The news that the measures taken by European governments, the United States and the central banks of the leading economies have been successful and are once again inspiring confidence on the financial markets certainly fills one with hope." (21/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Financial Markets, » Europe, » U.S.

Austria plans to abolish university tuition fees. The daily Die Presse criticises the decision. "There are many arguments for saying that those who receive the benefits of an academic degree and thus improve their earning potential should pay something towards this. Even if the sum in question isn't high - as is the case with the 363 euros per semester that have been stipulated until next year. But in one respect the universities and the financers in Austria have failed: there has been no major improvement in the overall conditions for studying. Mass lectures and mass exams are still a feature of student life. ... We should say 'yes' to tuition fees, but also 'yes' to modern, cutting-edge universities and adequate financing for teaching and research. To just say 'no,' as the SPÖ is doing, or just say 'yes' like the ÖVP will not suffice to meet the needs of our universities."   (21/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Austria
All available articles from » Erich Witzmann

In the daily El País the Czech writer Monika Zgustova criticises the accusations levelled at her fellow countryman, the writer Milan Kundera, who, on the basis of secret service documents, is suspected of denouncing an anti-communist activist to the police in 1950. "How can an accusation with such grave consequences be made on the basis of a single dubious document and use so many vague expressions? Dubious because in the Czechoslovakia of the 1950s it was routine for the police to receive denunciations, for every police official who received a denunciation could be sure of being awarded a medal ... Both the Czech and the international press were quick to comment on the article [in Respekt] and to spread the accusations against Kundera. In this way we became witnesses ... to something very grave: we were witness to massive accusations against a person in the midst of democracy, without the documents referred to even being questioned, without knowing whether there were any other documents, without hearing other witnesses and above all without listening to the accused's own version of the events." (21/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Literature, » History, » Czech Republic
All available articles from » Monika Zgustová

Struggling with debts amounting to approximately 100 million euros, Denmark's public television broadcaster TV2 is on the verge of bankruptcy. The daily Berlingske Tidende calls for a carefully thought-out rescue plan: "It won't do any good to toss a coin to decide which subsidiaries are to be closed. A decision needs to be made once and for all about what we want to achieve with TV2. ... We need a strong TV2, and public media can survive - even in the current environment. But in view of the national austerity programme the media branch needs to be more creative. We would generally take this for granted, but nowadays a bit more is required. We have seen that the TV2 management has, to its credit, asked politicians for more money. 'Capital increase' is what it's called nowadays. So they have at least shown some resourcefulness. We can only hope that someone or other will come up with a better idea before the lights go out at the television station."     (21/10/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Audiovisual Media, » Denmark