The conservative daily Magyar Nemzet puts the present Slovak-Hungarian conflict down to the weakness and irresoluteness of the Hungarian government: "Hungary's political elite has been battling tirelessly against radicals, excluders and anti-Semites for two decades now. Yet Europe insists on seeing the current conflict as a dispute between Slovak and Hungarian nationalists. And this despite the fact that in Hungary not a single political group of any consequence has voiced approval of the right-wing extremists, while in Slovakia people in government circles talk of Hungary in a tone that only marginal, radical figures would dare to use here. ... But the main problem lies in the weakness and loss of authority of the Hungarian state. A nation that is neither able to defend its own interests nor has a strong sense of self-confidence will be despised by its neighbours. ...   It is high time we recognised this. Wake up, Hungary!" (11/11/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Hungary, » Slovakia
All available articles from » Szabolcs Szerető

At the blockaded border to Slovakia, members of the [right-wing] Hungarian Guard have waved banners bearing the words "Welcome to Slotakia" in reference to Ján Slota, head of the co-ruling Slovak National Party. The EU has voiced its concern, while Czech politicians have offered their help as mediators. The liberal newspaper Sme comments: "So much has transpired in Slovak-Hungarian relations over the last two and a half years that something must finally be done. The escalation will never be stopped merely by politicians putting the blame on each other. Just as the Hungarian Guard cannot be disbanded from the Slovakian side, Slovakian politicians who want to score points by playing up past conflicts cannot be silenced from the Hungarian side. Now is the time for people to speak up and bring the politicians in charge to reason. Because Slovakia is not Slotakia." (11/11/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Hungary, » Slovakia
All available articles from » Marián Leško

The left-liberal Hungarian daily Népszabadság takes a closer look at Hungary's right-wing extremists, who are stoking the tensions between the two neighbouring countries with acts of provocation. "They [the radical right in Hungary] are very much aware that the Slovak side sees their actions as provocation. The right-wing extremists who cast themselves as national heroes and martyrs have achieved their goal: if you want to be considered a 'good Hungarian' nowadays - as if that was the top priority - you don't try to attack [the radicals]. ... This is a tragedy. ... Leading Slovak politicians like Prime Minister Robert Fico ... are perfectly aware that the provocations of the Hungarian right-wing extremists run counter to the government policy of Ferenc Gyurcsány in political, historical and ideological terms. Yet for the sake of political posturing they are blaming Hungary's political elite for the actions of the Hungarian radicals. This, too, is a tragedy." (11/11/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Hungary, » Slovakia
All available articles from » Endre Aczél

Owing to the presence of Russian troops in Georgia the EU had temporarily broken off its talks with Russia. Now the negotiations are to be resumed, among other things to ward off the threat of Russian energy supplies to Europe being cut off. The daily La Voix du Luxembourg criticises Europe's bowing to Russian pressure in the gas dispute: "The first taste of winter cold has sufficed to make Europeans put on their woolly hats, cover their faces with scarves - and give in to Russia. They didn't want to risk the gas tap being turned off. But if we sacrifice European ideals for the sake of keeping ourselves warm it will be difficult to intervene in the Congo and justify the arrest of a top aide to Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Germany ... or to cite international law as justification for future interventions." (11/11/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Russia, » Europe
All available articles from » Thierry Labro

Accompanied by protests, the eleventh transport of nuclear waste from the French nuclear reprocessing plant in La Hague has arrived at the intermediate storage facility in Gorleben. The daily Süddeutsche Zeitung predicts that nuclear energy will be a major issue in the parliamentary elections of 2009: "It looks good when a democracy strictly observes the right to demonstrate and takes a relaxed stance on non-violent forms of civil disobedience. ... The basic conflict is and remains unsolvable ... . Atomic energy is a form of energy that requires ... complex security systems and people are sometimes unable to deal with this complexity. But it is also rational to recall that so far the only accident with serious consequences was Chernobyl. ... But whichever way you look at it Gorleben remains the symbolic site where opposition to nuclear energy coalesces. ... Neither the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) nor the Social Democratic Party (SPD) have the desire or the courage to initiate an open-ended search for a final disposal site." (11/11/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Environmental Policy, » Energy, » Germany, » France
All available articles from » Wolfgang Roth

A majority of political players in the Netherlands reject the country's liberal policy of tolerating soft drugs. While the sale of hashish is allowed, trafficking and growing it are banned. But a ban on drug sales would not help combat crime, writes De Volkskrant newspaper: "A ban may sound logical, but it would be short-sighted. Of all people the dealers would be the only ones to really profit from a crackdown on soft drugs. That would push prices up, and the traffickers know all too well that bans only stimulate consumption. ... Criminality is not a result of drugs, but of our strange policy of toleration which pushes people into crime. I know it almost sounds old-fashioned, but let's finally just legalise the stuff! Now that the state is once more at the centre of things, there are no more obstacles to a hashish monopoly. ... And if people abroad find that funny, too bad for them." (11/11/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Netherlands
All available articles from » Bert Wagendorp

In France November 11 is a public holiday commemorating the armistice that ended World War I. Le Monde newspaper writes that it's possible for a country to have too many days of remembrance: "Within the space of half a century the number of days of remembrance in France has doubled. A committee led by the historian André Kaspi has warned about this 'remembrance inflation' and proposed retaining only three national days of remembrance: November 11 (anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I), May 8 (victory against the Nazis) and 14 July (French Revolution). This provoked an immediate storm of protest. On the contrary, new remembrance days should be introduced to take account of recent developments in French society. That's right. Then we would have a really impressive number of public holidays. ... But how can we squeeze in all these dates? 365 day will hardly suffice." (11/11/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Cultural Policy, » History, » France
All available articles from » Robert Sole

Sega newspaper reflects on the lessons learned since the system change that began on November 10, 1989. "At the time we didn't know that democracy consists of the laborious construction of rules tailored to the majority, and of the even more laborious necessity of abiding by them. We didn't know that democracy offers the possibility of discovering ugliness, greed and aggression all around you, and even in yourself. We were the product of another social contract, a political culture forged in Moscow. This culture was imperfect and absurd, but it cared for individuals by guaranteeing them bread while denying them immorality. ... We did not really change after November 10. The Komsomol [youth organisation of the Soviet Communist Party] activist has become a liberal, while the former manager - now a private entrepreneur - continues to rely on political connections with the old establishment. And the humble worker complains about arbitrary decisions taken at a company or state level, just like he did before about the absurdities of the partocracy [rule of the party]. After November 10 came - logically - November 11. What we have gained in the process is freedom of movement and freedom of opinion, even if it may seem rather relative. My only fear is that without an outside guarantor, collective psychology could take another spin and cause us to lose these acquisitions once again." (11/11/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » History, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Boyko Lambovski

"The election of Barack Obama offers a unique chance ... to strengthen transatlantic relations", writes João Marques de Almeida in Diário Económico newspaper: "Although many of the threats faced by the US and many of its interests will remain unchanged, it is mistaken to say that Obama's America will be identical with that of George W. Bush. Obama's election is the expression of America's will to change, but also of the will ... to change the way the rest of the world sees the US. With the election the US has taken a first step in the direction of its allies. Now these allies must take a step towards the US. Many provactions will test transatlantic relations in the months to come. Troublemakers will say that the US will continue to be the US, regardless of who is president. My hope is that those who now say that Obama's America will be different from Bush's will go on thinking that way." (10/11/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Europe, » U.S.
All available articles from » João Marques Almeida de

Spanish Prime Minister Luis Rodríguez-Zapatero will be allowed to participate at the G20 world financial summit because France has given up one of its two seats to Spain. This is a big responsibilitiy, ABC newspaper writes. "It would have a very negative effect on Spanish interests if after exerting pressure on several governments to be allowed to take part in the summit, Zapatero were not up to the task in hand. Zapatero should make use of the talks that began yesterday with banks, unions and businesses and which will end with a meeting with [opposition leader] Mariano Rajoy to present appropriate and convincing suggestions to the G20 members." (11/11/2008)

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

Spanish and Italian trade unions estimate that in the next few months up to 500,000 Romanian workers could return to their home country. This could represent a great opportunity for Romania, writes the daily Gandul. "It's useless to seek work in other countries: the crisis has hit all of Europe. ... The only solution is to return home. ... If you live in the countryside you needn't fear having to go hungry; no matter how little land you own you'll always have a chicken, a potato or a tomato. ... And no matter how bad the crisis gets, there'll always be a couple of jobs. For a year now, since the labour shortages started, it's not the growing salaries or Romania losing good workers that entrepreneurs have been complaining about but the fact that they can't find any specialists or qualified workers. The pressure of those returning could have a positive effect: competition on the labour market will lead to higher productivity." (11/11/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Migration, » Integration, » Economic Policy, » Italy, » Spain, » Europe, » Romania
All available articles from » Caterina Nicolae

The Dutch VSB Bank is cutting its budget for culture funding by 30 million euros as a consequence of the credit crunch. Other sponsors of culture have also announced austerity measures. Will Minister for Culture Ronald Plasterk "now open his treasure chest", the national newspaper NRC Handelsblad asks. "No. There's no reason for the state to step in and socialise the art sector when the private sector is unexpectedly hit by economic recession. The government creates the conditions for a long-term flourishing of cultural life. It does so through institutions, money and sometimes good rhetoric. With this good rhetoric Plasterk can convince sponsors that the culture sector should not be allowed to become the first victim of the recession. But he must avoid conveying the impression that the state will step in when other parties pull out. The credit crunch affects many sectors of society, including culture, too, unfortunately." (11/11/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Cultural Policy, » Netherlands

In the run-up to the Cultural Asset Alarm conference that will take place in Rome, Eugenio Scalfari, founder of the newspaper La Repubblica, calls on Italians not to let control over the country's cultural assets be taken from the public domain: "Culture runs the risk of becoming the weakest link in the chain and falling victim to the current financial crisis. Culture and research are seen as optional, and the planned budget cuts will fall above all in these areas. Yet what people fail to recognise here is that government spending in these areas is an investment, not an expenditure. The appraisal and preservation of our cultural assets has a direct effect on our economy because they are linked to tourism, one of our major sources of income. ... And federalism will only worsen the cultural devastation as long as public opinion fails to proclaim saving our culture civic duty number one." (11/11/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Cultural Policy, » Italy
All available articles from » Eugenio Scalfari

On the online portal of the weekly magazine Respekt, chief editor Martin M. Šimečka and Petr Třešňá write that Milan Kundera's memory seems to be very weak indeed. Kundera, who is suspected of having denounced an opposition figure to the Czechoslovak secret police in the 1950s, has until now maintained that he is entirely unacquainted with the people involved in the case. This statement is at odds with the fact that he personally dedicated a book to two of them, Iva Militka and Miroslav Dlask, in 1953. "Written on the inside cover of the book are the words: 'For Mirek and Iva (illegible), Milan'. It is highly unlikely that someone could write such a dedication without knowing the recipients. Of course it could be that Kundera did know them but can no longer remember them. But then it is legitimate to ask what else he has blocked from his memory." (11/11/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Literature, » History, » Czech Republic
All available articles from » Martin M. Šimečka, » Peter Třešňák