The Spanish daily El Mundo calls US President Barack Obama's keynote address in Cairo a "historic, moving and above all intelligent message of brotherhood": "Obama even stressed that the Islamic heritage is part of the American cultural identity when he pointed out that Thomas Jefferson defended the nascent US constitution with quotes from the Koran. And he did not hesitate to exercise self-criticism for mistakes of the past, and to stress that aberrations such as torture and imprisonment without recourse to legal action in Guantánamo Bay prison are no longer acceptable. Almost at the same time as he delivered these words, the EU was conferring on the procedure for accepting prisoners from the US's Cuban detention camp in the coming months." (05/06/2009)

» more information (external link, Spanish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Religion, » U.S., » Middle East, » North Africa, » Egypt

The Internet portal Rue89 analyses Obama's address to the Islamic World: "Al Qaeda's number two man, Aiman Al-Zawahiri, called on the Egyptians before the speech not to be seduced by the 'refined rhetoric' of the 'criminal Barack Obama'. He had every reason to fear Obama's rhetoric. The American president delivered a speech in Cairo ... that puts a definitive end to the Bush era and stretches out a hand to the Muslim World with respect and modesty. ... The most eagerly awaited part of his address dealt with Israel and Palestine, and it was there that he promised the most. ... With a few words of Arabic, some well-chosen quotes from the Koran and a consistent respect for a religion that many Americans view as an 'enemy', Obama also managed to send a strong signal for a change of heart. At the same time he remained firm regarding the US's relations with Israel and on the fight against all those who use violence or who attack democracy - even if he no longer tries to 'impose' it, but merely to 'support' it." (04/06/2009)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » U.S., » Middle East
All available articles from » Pierre Haski

Commenting on the keynote speech in Cairo, the daily Expressen writes: "This could be Barack Obama's most important speech to date. … During the past weeks relations between the Obama administration and Israel's right-wing government have deteriorated. Both Obama and [US Secretary of State] Hillary Clinton have made it clear that Israel must stop the expansion of its settlements. … This will now be Obama's litmus test. Is he just a man of nice words or also a man of deeds? So far Obama has been ill rewarded for his conciliatory foreign policy. North Korea has stepped up its fight against the world around it. Iran is showing no signs of pulling back on its nuclear weapon plans. The violence in Iraq and Afghanistan continues. Not even the US's friends are behaving obligingly. … The great challenge for Obama consists in winning over as many parts of the world as possible in order to isolate and weaken irreconcilable forces - not least among the Muslims." (05/06/2009)

» full article (external link, Swedish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Religion, » Weltanschauung, » U.S., » Middle East, » Egypt

With his speech in Cairo US President Barack Obama has once again clearly distanced himself from his predecessor, the daily newspaper De Standaard writes: "George Bush acted on the assumption that the US was powerful and morally superior, had a duty to spread its values and was in a position to do so, if necessary using weapons. Obama yesterday offered the Muslims new dialogue and a new partnership on the basis of mutual understanding and respect. And this is no sign of weakness. On the contrary, Obama's speech was a rhetorical masterpiece, delivered by a president who is both modest and self-assured and who understands the power of words. What we heard yesterday was one of the few historic speeches that announced a dramatic change in course. … There is a danger that the president inspired false hope with his speech, that he can't make the pretty words come true. This would be a bad thing for Europe, which has even closer ties to the Arab world than the US. … The task is unbelievably difficult and it is by no means certain that Obama will master it, but at least he's trying. And he deserves Europe's support." (05/06/2009)

» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Global
All available articles from » Evita Neefs

The daily Delo sees Barack Obama's speech in Cairo as mostly just pretty words: "The coarse and oafish diplomacy of Obama's predecessor [George W. Bush] did the US more harm than good because it led to the recruitment of an army of bitter enemies of the US. Consequently with his way of talking the new president can do a lot to further global US interests, which have not changed in the past decades no matter who was in the White House. Critics will say that the methods haven't changed either. But the fact is that prettier packaging does indeed tend to boost the popularity of a product. In the coming months and years we will look for the effects of US President Barack Obama's speech in Cairo on the Islam world. However Obama did not convince [the radical Islamist] Hamas, and Israel too is still a long way from trusting Obama. On this front the US president was a far cry from completing the task that [the flatterer] Damocles performed." (05/06/2009)

» more information (external link, Slovenian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Crises / War, » Religion, » U.S., » Middle East
All available articles from » Boris Cibej

The daily The Times comments on the resignation of British Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell and his call on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to likewise step down: "Mr Purnell has now opened the floodgates and there is no excuse for anyone else declining to rush through. Or rather: the question has now been put. If the rest of the Cabinet, and the influential backbench MPs who are said to be collecting signatures for a leadership challenge, now decide not to follow, then they have settled on their choice for the next general election. They will have chosen to uphold a prime minister whose authority in his party is questionable and whose authority in the country is spent. A terrible prospect is now in view for the Labour Party. If the Prime Minister limps on now, mortally wounded but exhaling his last through gritted teeth, the Government will relinquish its last opportunity to regain the attention, let alone the allegiance, of the electorate. The end is not yet nigh but the die is surely cast." (05/06/2009)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » United Kingdom

According to the Global Corruption Barometer of the civil rights organisation Transparency International, the judicary in Bulgaria is the institution worst hit by corruption. The daily Klassa reflects on how this phenomenon can be fought: "Corruption must be understood in a broad context. Apart from bribery, it includes for example the appointment of judges for political or private motives. ... We have no legal framework for fighting corruption, and one must now be created. Anti-corruption organs must be established, in which the judiciary itself must play a part. The way the organs of judicial power are now formed makes it possible to exert substantial political pressure on the judiciary, and this no doubt plays a key role in fostering corruption." (05/06/2009)

» full article (external link, Bulgarian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Krasimir Kanev

The application for asylum in Canada submitted by Anna Poláková, the director of Roma programmes on Czech public television, marks the first time a prominent Czech Roma has sought asylum for herself and her family. Repeated attacks and humiliations suffered by family members at the hands of neo-Nazis prompted the move. The daily Hospodářské Noviny comments: "In this case the compulsory explanation that this is just another woman after more social benefits won't suffice. Rather we must reflect on her fear inspired by growing racism and her vain hope that the state could protect her. Poláková has an attractive job, family and a good income. … Both we and the state have failed when we can't even offer Roma who obey the law, go to university and have a decent job a sense of security. We know from past experience that sooner or later a state that is abandoned by its elites will pay for this." (05/06/2009)

» full article (external link, Czech)
More from the press review on the subject » Minorities, » Czech Republic
All available articles from » Jiří Leschtina

In the European election campaign in the Netherlands right-wing populist Geert Wilders' anti-European Party for Freedom (PVV) has emerged as the country's second-strongest political force. The parties of the middle were the great losers, particularly the Social Democrats. The daily Trouw analyses the election results: "In the end this outcome shows that the Netherlands is not nearly as eurosceptic as one would have supposed four years ago [when two-thirds rejected the European constitution]. This is an important conclusion after years of doubts about the attitude of our country, which in 1957 stood at the cradle of European cooperation. … The voter turnout was pretty much the same as in 2004, but considerably higher than in the 1990s. From this one can deduce that Europe now beats stronger in our hearts and minds. Expectations can't be that high in view of the hazy position of the European Parliament within what continues to be a pure confederation of states. In this context multilingualism poses a major stumbling block for European debate." (05/06/2009)

» full article (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Elections, » Netherlands, » Europe

The Hungarian parties have all but ignored European topics in campaigning for the European elections, writes the business paper Figyelő in its leading article: "The parties have succeeded in running their campaigns from start to finish without losing so much as a word over the EU. ... l grant you, recent weeks have shown that domestic issues have dominated campaigns in other countries as well. Nevertheless Hungary's provincialism was particularly striking. It remains a mystery to voters what Hungary hopes to achieve in the European Union. Admittedly, the same was true five years ago. But at least this time around the opposition could have called the government to account. ... Instead, the conservative opposition party Fidesz went to great pains to avoid saying what was really at stake here: the fate of the 22 Hungarian mandates in the European Parliament. Rather, Fidesz never stopped hammering the message home with its voters that the European elections provided the perfect opportunity for it to pronounce judgement on the [post-socialist] government." (05/06/2009)

» more information (external link, Hungarian)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Elections, » Hungary, » Europe

Writing for the daily Le Quotidien, Olivier Landini reflects on Europe's identity, its origins and foundations: "Is it [the basis for Europe's identity] a religion, as a large part of the opponents to Turkey's EU accession claim? The Christian roots of almost all European countries are indeed undeniable. But are these roots and the values they entail still really productive nowadays? Are they still acceptable for all? Can today's 500 million Europeans still recognise a unifying principle in them today? Yes, the churchgoers would answer in chorus. But what about the others - the millions of secularists, atheists and also Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and other followers of sundry religions? Can we just pretend they're not there? … Yes, Europe has a Christian legacy, but today's European society is very diverse. The invasions, movements, migration, and influences to which the continent has been subjected are many in number. And this has shaped Europe's history." (05/06/2009)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Religion, » Migration, » Philosophy, » Europe
All available articles from » Olivier Landini

Columnist Enn Soosaar reflects in the daily Postimees on whether the EU will opt for enlargement or consolidation after the Treaty of Lisbon is adopted: "Although both of these goals are worthy, we must accept that it is not possible to do both at once. In any event it is clearly demonstrable that the eastward expansion of the democratic social order and the common market was a boon for Europe as a whole - both old and new. Certainly with the advance of Europe losses will be incurred, and we must not shut our eyes to these. Compromise will be all the harder to achieve in Europe with the growing number of opinions, interests and needs, with the increasing cultural diversity of decision makers and the heightened variety of their values. The experiences of recent years should give us pause for thought. Differences of opinion and diverging points of view can hinder the EU's ability to act. At the same time, however, we should not overlook the fact that diversity of opinion and varying cultural perspectives can also prove invigorating in many respects." (05/06/2009)

» full article (external link, Estonian)
More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » EU Policy, » EU neighbourhood policy, » Europe
All available articles from » Enn Soosaar

Following the announcement of the Air France passenger jet tragedy many bankers speculated on a nosedive in the price of the airline's shares and those of other companies, writes Roussos Vranas in the daily Ta Nea: "In the same moment that the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris confirmed there was no longer any hope for the plane … Air France's shares plunged into the red and then recovered again. … In the meantime … some bankers who bought cheap shares were able to pocket a substantial profit. … Prince Pedro Luís de Orléans e Bragança, a member of Brazil's royal family, Thyssen Krupp board member Erich Heine and Luís Roberto Anastácio, president of Michelin South America, were all sitting on that plane. It is highly unlikely that the bankers intended to speculate on the fall and rise of the royal family but in the cases of Michelin and Thyssen Krupp this can't be ruled out." (05/06/2009)

» full article (external link, Greek)
More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Economic Policy, » Weltanschauung, » Global
All available articles from » Roussos Vranas

The gap between the prosperous region of Bratislava and the poorer Slovak provinces is constantly growing, the liberal daily Sme notes: "Slovakia must grow like an Asian tiger in order to develop the regions east of Bratislava. … The problem stems from the times when the country was modernised, industrialised and controlled from the centre and was finally transformed from a dinosaur of the arms industry to a global power in car production. The result is an economic structure that is sensitive to shocks. When things are not going well in the world then they are even worse here. When things are going well they're even better in Slovakia. At least from a statistical point of view. There are regional differences everywhere. But we joined the European Union also in a bid to diminish these differences. So far we have failed to make use of this opportunity." (05/06/2009)

» full article (external link, Slovak)
More from the press review on the subject » Economic Policy, » Labour, » Slovakia, » Global
All available articles from » Ivan Štulajter

The artist Dorota Nieznalska has been acquitted on appeal of charges of having insulted religious feeling. In an exhibition she had shown a cross bearing a picture of a penis while a video of a man training in a fitness studio played in the background. The liberal daily Gazeta Wyborcza is delighted: "Yesterday's judgement in the Gdánsk courtroom was a toast to freedom. Dorota Nieznalska was declared innocent. After eight years! This judgement is a celebration of freedom and reason. It is a victory for critical art - which has no intention of insulting anyone - over politics, which denigrates free thinkers and imputes them with the worst intents. The League of Polish Families [the Catholic nationalist party that brought the charges] did not attack Dorota Nieznalska personally, it just sees enemies everywhere it looks." (05/06/2009)

» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Fine Arts, » Poland
All available articles from » Dorota Jarecka

The knowledge society dreams of empty rooms with highspeed connections, writes the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung in an obituary on the bookshelf: "The bookshelf is dying out, even before e-books - which no longer need bookshelves, but only the Internet's huge storage capacity - have started to play a massive role in our lives. The medium 'bookshelf' - most often made of wood - is disappearing into thin air - long before its raison d'être, the hitherto paper (and consequently also made of wood) medium the 'book' has ceased to exist. ... It must not be forgotten, however, that in our socio-cultural dwelling patterns the bookshelf never simply organised edification. It has always had a hand in documenting it as well, in showcasing it. ... The knowledge and information society needs a fibre optic cable, not a bookshelf. The 'smart houses' which keep a close eye on the best before dates of yoghurt in the fridge likewise have no need for the bookshelf because they revolve primarily around knowledge, but not around understanding." (05/06/2009)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Literature, » Public Culture, » Online media, » Global
All available articles from » Gerhard Matzig

In the left-liberal daily La Repubblica art critic and former Venice Biennale director Achille Bonito Oliva assesses this year's event in Venice and its motto: "Create art to create worlds. … The subject is well chosen for this is the function of art and the destiny of the artist, who through his work tries to create new worlds. This means having and conveying an alternative vision and perspective of things and giving expression to a force of renewal. Art, above all contemporary art, is never a statistical celebration of the present or a neutral and impersonal documentation of the reality that surrounds us. Rather it is an auspicious, catastrophic surprise attack by the artist on the tectonic balance of normal language, aimed at developing an increasingly advanced level of communication." (05/06/2009)

» more information (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » Fine Arts, » Italy, » Europe
All available articles from » Achille Bonito Oliva