The war crimes tribunal for Sierra Leone is a major first step in eliminating the trade in so-called blood diamonds, writes the left-liberal daily Der Standard: "The case [of former Liberian President Charles] Taylor shows how difficult it is to prove political responsibility for war crimes. This was already clear in the case of the late defendant [former president of Serbia] Slobodan Milošević. Only now are we beginning to formulate international laws that would so efficiently ensure that the crimes of individuals are brought to justice that they will reduce the impunity that sows such despair and brutality, particularly in Africa. The trial of Taylor remains a milestone, because it shows that not even a former president can escape prosecution. The tribunal - eight of the 13 accused have been convicted - now has also prompted the diamond-producing countries and diamond dealers to try to stop the trade in 'blood diamonds'. [Model Naomi] Campbell's appearance in court has at least demonstrated that diamonds are not always 'a girl's best friend'." (06/08/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Africa, » Global
All available articles from » Adelheid Wölfl

The war crimes tribunal against Liberia's former dictator, where supermodel Naomi Campbell has also given evidence, shows how two worlds clash with each other because of diamonds: "It's not a fashion show but a hearing of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. ... Campbell's statements weaken the defence of Charles Taylor, who is being tried for war crimes and so far claimed to never have had any diamonds. ... The glamour of show business collides with the horrors of war crimes with this unreal testimony given in a court at The Hague. ... And it reveals unexpected catwalks between these two worlds, which seem so far apart. In the year 2008, the film Blood Diamond with Leonardo Di Caprio painted a very realistic picture of the history of the stones and their role in these wars. Naomi Campbell could have had a role in it." (05/08/2010)

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All available articles from » Céline Vigouroux

British PR agencies are raking in great sums for improving the image of dictators, writes the left-liberal daily La Repubblica, commenting on the trial against former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor in The Hague: "It's as if an army of fairies had silently taken up their magic wands in his service in London. Overnight they try to transform bloody dictators into political leaders with vision, and greedy, kleptomaniac presidents into wise and balanced heads of state. They polish up the international image of governments and dictators which kill people at will at home yet go around the world asking banks for loans and governments for backing. ... Not all governments talk openly about their relations with PR agencies, out of fear that their efforts will be spoiled. ... But the goal is always the same - a makeover for the country and its political leadership." (06/08/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » United Kingdom, » Africa
All available articles from » Vincenzo Nigro

In the months ahead, Slovenia will send troops to Afghanistan to help train Afghan troops and accompany them in operations in the war zone. The daily paper Delo accuses Defence Minister Ljubica Jelušič of ignoring the danger to Slovenian soldiers in combat: "Surveys have shown that we Slovenians do not support the mission in Afghanistan. ... The notion that the Slovenian army in Afghanistan is to focus mainly on securing the road between Kabul and Herat is just another example of [the defence minister's] populism. And the Slovenian defence policy is merely populist when they say that our soldiers will stay in the regions where they were already. If the politicians are so keen on consensus, why don't they talk about the fact that it could come to the deployment of our troops in the dangerous southern regions?" (06/08/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Domestic Policy, » Slovenia, » Afghanistan
All available articles from » Dejan Karba

Romania's town halls are to present their plans by the end of next week on reducing staff over the coming months. The government has promised the IMF it will dismiss at least 74,000 public sector employees this year. The weekly Dilema Veche is happy to see the end of a pernicious tradition: "The whole world knows that the state apparatus is overloaded and inefficient. ... There is a long tradition of employing large staffs at public institutions. We're not just talking about creating posts for all kinds of relatives, friends, lovers and political pals. It's more than that. It's a real 'culture'. ... The state belongs to us yet doesn't belong to anyone at the same time. It is 'an entity' that gives us things and must take care of us; that we can shout at when we're angry, but of which we otherwise take little notice and for which we somehow don't feel responsible. ... If the IMF and the EU hadn't obliged us to cut staff - in return for a loan - this thoughtless behaviour would have just continued." (06/08/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Economic Policy, » Social affairs, » Romania
All available articles from » Mircea Vasilescu

Meat and milk from cloned animals is now on sale on the UK market. The British Food Standards Agency has now launched an investigation. The leftist daily tageszeitung wonders why the demands for regulations are only being voiced now: "Because just over two years ago, when the US began thinking about allowing cloned animals, it first became public that embryos from cloned cows from the US had been imported into the UK. Why? It was hardly to attract visitors to a clone zoo. No, back then it was already perfectly clear that the aim was to rear a herd of cows or cattle to produce foodstuffs. ... This provokes suspicions that this [an investigation] had deliberately been avoided so far. Yet surveys show that a majority of consumers rejects clone products. However the EU Commission doesn't dare impose a ban: only recently it once again shelved the issue." (06/08/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Health Policy, » Environmental Policy, » Consumers, » United Kingdom, » Europe
All available articles from » Wolfgang Löhr

Radical Catholics are once again vehemently defending the memorial cross set up in front of the Polish presidential palace, dedicated to the victims of the plane crash three months ago. The Church has revealed itself to be a weak institution through this conflict, because it tapped the faithful, who - without any reflection - want to defend the symbol of Christianity wherever it may stand, writes the liberal daily Gazeta Wyborcza: "It's no surprise that the young Polish democracy and the state, which has only been free for a short while, are both weak. But what about the Church? The causes of this behaviour are deeply rooted. The crazy defenders of the cross nevertheless are its pupils: They are the extreme results of a spiritual curriculum carried out over a long period of time. It is all about the cross as such, and goes as follows: This symbol is holy and honourable. Anyone who opposes its placement here or anywhere else is simply our enemy." (06/08/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Religion, » Poland
All available articles from » Jan Turnau

The West has to reflect on its values and draw on new strengths in competition with emerging Asian countries, suggests Dominique Moïsi of the French Institute for International Relations in the Financial Times: "In a world where we will soon be relatively few, our goal must be to become a niche of excellence. Today this model of excellence is most visible in the 'northern lights' of Scandinavia, where power is modest and honest, where women play a major role in society, where a human brand of capitalism is practised, and where respect towards migrants is the rule. This is clearly not the model followed in the US. But neither is it the model of Nicolas Sarkozy or Silvio Berlusconi, and in this France and Italy are both failing to live up to Europe's enlightened ideals. The time has come to realise that we live beyond our means in material terms, and well below our means both intellectually and spiritually. So western powers have to reinvent themselves, but with one major consideration in mind: that for all the fears that have come with the rise of Asia, their future ultimately depends on what lies within." (05/08/2010)

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

The inspectors of the European Central Bank, the EU Commission and the International Monetary Fund have confirmed that Greece has fulfilled its goals so far regarding budget consolidation. This gives the green light for the country to receive another international loan of nine billion euros. The left-liberal daily El País hopes the financial situation in Europe will now stabilise: "Slowly but surely the financial solvency of the euro countries is stabilising. ... The case of Greece instils optimism even if this partial fulfilment of the programme of adjustment doesn't guarantee a return to growth and a normal financial situation once the radical austerity programme is completed. In the case of Spain, with a level of solvency far superior to that of the Greeks, the stability can be detected in a reduction in the difference between the risk markup rate for Spain and for Germany and in the ease with which the treasury is able to issue securities at the moment." (06/08/2010)

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

Companies in several European countries have posted positive quarterly results in recent days. The business paper De Tijd expresses delight at this apparent recovery of the Eurozone, but nonetheless dampens optimism: "It's still too early to proclaim victory: The Eurozone runs on one engine. The German export machine may be at full swing, but 'the average consumer' is on strike. While the Chinese can't get enough of German luxury cars, the German consumers remain cautious. ... And it's difficult to see how Athens can demand austerity from its population for years to come without the credit holders making their contribution. Investors don't believe this: they are demanding at least ten percent interest on long-term Greek loans, four times as much as on German loans. European politicians have managed to restore confidence with the rescue package and the stress tests. But just as we must be on guard against Europhobia, blind 'europhoria' would also be out of place." (06/08/2010)

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

Greeks have transferred an estimated 22 billion euros from Greek banks to foreign accounts. The left-liberal daily To Vima urges wealthy citizens to bring their money back home: "If the liquidity problem is not resolved, and if faith in the Greek economy does not return, ... it will be even harder for the country to emerge from this crisis. Clearly, wealthy Greeks who were able to earn money in the past, and to speculate with it, will now have to muster up a little bit of patriotism. They should show respect for the country that made them rich, and bring their deposits back home. They don't have to worry any more about the country going bankrupt. And besides, they owe something to the masses of employees who have so many burdens to bear in this country." (06/08/2010)

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All available articles from » Antonis Karakousis

Major storms have left broad swaths of Finland without power and caused major damage in recent days. Finnish agricultural minister Sirkka-Liisa Anttila has announced that she will seek EU aid in order to cover the costs. The daily paper Aamulehti remarks with sarcasm: "[The damages] ... make the politicians turn to the European Union. For money, of course. What is even more worrying is that the storms shook up the Finnish lifestyle so much. Who would have thought that people in a social welfare state would sit surrounded by candles, consuming the thawing food from their freezers, for one whole week? We have once again survived a minor catastrophe. A catastrophe that can be quantified with money. Now we can continue to put off urgent safety measures, such as the clearing of railway lines to prevent trees from  falling in front of trains. Before the end of the world there will be a phase during which the Finns starve in their houses." (05/08/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Energy, » Social affairs, » Finland

The municipality of Sofia has tightened requirements for dog owners and raised the fines for violations of dog regulations. Now city employees are on the lookout for dogs without papers. Given the many abandoned dogs in Sofia, the daily paper Trud asks: "What do these inspectors actually want to do with the stray dogs? Who will ask for their vaccination papers? Who will strap on their muzzles? Face it: the dogs bite, they make the city dirty and they carry diseases. Their owners should be held responsible. And in this case that means Mayor Fandakova and the members of the city council, all 61 of them. The inspectors should slap them with a fine, if they dare. At any rate, the leaders should ask themselves why there are no stray dogs in other cities, in and outside Bulgaria. And then they can continue as always, going after their voters and their dogs." (05/08/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Social affairs, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Ivan Dimov

Latvian entrepreneur Viesturs Koziols has bought the majority stake in the Latvian daily Diena from the British Rowland family. Writing in her blog with the portal Politika, Dita Arāja fears politics will now hold sway over the paper: "Free and independent media have been pretty much snuffed out in Latvia with this move. The journalists now have the choice between working in an office run by a friend of Ainārs Šlesers [the right-wing candidate in the parliamentary elections] or deciding that things have just gone too far. ... When he was a minister Šlesers manipulated the postal charges and tried to damage Diena with his political influence. Now he has found a better method of securing control of the newspaper. Only shortly before the most recent elections his friend Koziols founded the magazine Republika, which was then closed down as soon as Šlesers became minister and had access to state funding." (06/08/2010)

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All available articles from » Dita Arāja