"Yesterday's [February, the 17th] result was an emphatic defeat of his [President Tassos Papadopoulos] sterile policy on the Cyprus problem, which, despite his protestations, was geared at maintaining the status quo", writes the daily. "Tassos Papadopoulos was unwilling to take any initiative or to show the slightest hint of good faith in dealings with the other side, focusing all the government's efforts on preventing 'the upgrading of the status of the pseudo-state', by the international community. ... Demetris Christofias and Ioannis Kasoulides have both pledged, if elected, to take the initiative, start talks with the Turkish Cypriot side and make proposals for breaking the deadlock. Whether they are successful will also depend on the Turkish side, but at least the big majority of the voters showed that they would like their president to have an honest shot at finding a settlement – something that Papadopoulos had proved he could not be relied upon to do." (18/02/2008)

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"The failure of entrenched Greek Cypriot nationalist [Tassos Papadopoulos] to win the election paves the way for a new attempt to reunify the virtually divided island,” writes Julia Raabe. "The fact that the Turkish-Cypriot Prime Minister has signalled his readiness to talk seems to confirm hopes for peace. But a lot will depend on Turkey now, which has 40,000 soldiers stationed in the northern part of the island and settled tens of thousands of mainland Turkish citizens there as well. The way the country treats Cyprus – Ankara continues to refuse to recognize this EU member – is one of the biggest obstacles in EU talks regarding Turkey. But with Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence and the announcements by many EU countries that they plan to recognise Pristina, Ankara now has new ammunition to bolster its demands for an independent 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.' (19/02/2008)

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The voting out of Papadopoulos shows that Cyprus still has a chance, writes Cyrill Stieger. However "no one can expect miracles. More and more Turkish Cypriots say they would accept a permanent separation. They feel unjustly treated, because they were turned down for the much desired unification with the economically prosperous south, which now largely profits alone from the blessings of EU membership, even though Greek Cypriots turned down the UN peace plan. Many Turkish Cypriots are disappointed with Brussels, which – because of Nicosia's obstructionist policies – has so far failed to keep its promise and pave the way for direct trade between Northern Cyprus and the EU countries in a bid to overcome the territory's economic isolation. On top of that, the economic situation in the north has improved, particularly because of the economic recovery in Turkey." (19/02/2008)

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In an interview with Jean-Marie Guesnois, French philosopher Régis Debray responds to a recent proposal from Nicolas Sarkozy to "entrust the memory" of a deported Jewish child to every primary school child [in France]. "As much as it is a duty to remember, abusing remembrance is counterproductive. I think [Sarkozy's suggestion] is abuse of remembrance because it gives emotion pride of place, whereas the aim of schooling is neither emotion, compassion, or brooding over the dead ... There is a risk of escalation, of one-upmanship, of a competition for remembrance. In France's big city suburbs this remembrance could soon prompt a demand to adopt Israel's victims in Palestine. Then there are Gypsies, Armenians, and above all black people ... Rather than unify, this initiative will, I fear, cause division along community and religious lines." (18/02/2008)

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Petra Steinberger takes the new Kosovar flag as an occasion to reflect on the meaning of flags. "A nation uses its flag to create an image about its goals, its people, its culture and ideology – and that is how it has been since the origin of the nation state. Sometimes it is more by chance that a nation is described as such, particularly outside Europe. And even on the continent where the concept of 'nation' was born, there was a need for unifying symbols. That is how the first museums, anthems, flags and dictionaries came about, where real or imagined prehistory was mixed into the new image of a people. ... But if you think about it, these symbols and their statements were really always quite simple. Freedom. Equality. God. In some form or other. Or: Our country, our fantabulous country. Or: We are the best. … The flags of the early 21st century resemble one another as well as their predecessors in trying, more or less successfully, to express societal ideals and obsessions. Thus their reservoir of symbols is limited. Sun, moon and stars. Animals. Swords. Crosses. Land. And colours." (19/02/2008)

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Poland is the only EU country in which the minister of justice is also the attorney general. Now, the Polish government wants to create an independent prosecutor. President Lech Kaczynski intends to veto this attempt at reform. Ewa Siedlecka comments: "Lech Kaczynski has come back to big politics as a bold sheriff - the attorney general who personifies law and justice. Before [in 2000/1, when Kaczynski was both minister of justice and attorney general] the political party with this name was born. ... So it is no surprise that the president now announces his plan to veto this planned separation between the two positions. … Luckily, it will only be a symbolic gesture, with no political import. Because in a normal country, the law – and not government policy – should decide who is to be prosecuted for which crime." (19/02/2008)

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All available articles from » Ewa Siedlecka

Spain is one of the six EU countries that will not recognise Kosovo's independence, fearing that it sets a precedent which its own minorities could exploit. Ignacio Camacho feels that those who recognise Kosovan independence are irresponsible for they encourage "the secessionist momentum which threatens the stability of several European states, including our [Spain]... By accepting a state that starts from nothing , or which even the most basic structures must be built, Western powers have accommodated a precedent that no mere theoretical statement can undo. From now on, any creeping nationalism, however fanatic it may or may not be, knows that should it declare independence, France, Germany, and even the Yankees, are quite capable not only of looking the other way for reasons of strategic convenience, but of actually giving their consent or blessing." (19/02/2008)

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The Czech Parliament has confirmed Václav Klaus as president. Jaroslav Plesl worries about Klaus' possible influence, as an EU critic, on the Czech EU presidency in the first half of 2009: "Klaus – who enjoys international attention - won't miss this opportunity. We will see if his statements about clipping the wings of the EU should be taken seriously, or if instead he will cause either an international embarrassment or great amusement. ... In his second term in office Klaus might come to understand that his career is heading for its end, and this might eliminate his last remaining self-control." (19/02/2008)

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Five Muslim intellectuals - Farhad Golyardi, Faisal Mirza, Shervin Nekuee, Frank Sadiqqi and Tariq Shadid - have called on Dutch politicians to react to the anti-Islamic provocation of Geert Wilders, head of the far-right Freedom Party (PVV). "For months now, the Netherlands have lived in apprehension of a 'little film' about the Koran ... And what has the Dutch government been doing? Protecting embassies, asking Muslim countries to be understanding, calming the mood in the Netherland's Muslim communities, and saying... nothing! We believe that is high time that a clear political line should be drawn between freedom of expression and incitement to hate ... While across Europe Le Pen, Dewinter, and Haider have prompted reaction, the Netherlands believe they do not need a cordon sanitaire against xenophobic parties ... Such permissiveness in the face of systematic exploitation of xenophobia leaves us with a bitter taste of political cowardice." (16/02/2008)

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The German authorities are investigating a thousand wealthy tax-payers suspected of transferring funds to trusts in tax haven Liechtenstein. Among the suspects is Klaus Zumwinkel, CEO of Deutsche Post, who resigned on February 15. The daily backs the German authorities' probe. "Germany's problem with evasion is partly the fault of its tax system. Although the abolition of wealth tax has improved matters, marginal income and inheritance tax rates for high earners approach 50 per cent. Tough enforcement will never stop evasion if taxes are punitive. But governments are right to insist that those who live in a country, and benefit from public services, pay tax. That means they have to act against jurisdictions such as Liechtenstein that abet evaders." (19/02/2008)

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Last Sunday, the residents of the bulgarian city Burgas had a chance to have a say regarding the construction of the Burgas - Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, but only 27 percent of the population took part. And so the referendum against the pipeline failed. Welina Gospodinowa comments: "The referendum took place after the international contract was signed and the launching of the project was set. By law, the referendum would have no juridical impact, so many people simply waived the opportunity to vote. In addition, no one bothered to explain to them what actually would happen in Burgas Bay when the pipeline is there. But that would surely interest them. Does it make sense to compromise the successful local tourism industry, just because one expects a 17 million euro income from the pipeline project? How dangerous is the technology of loading oil on the open sea, and who takes responsibility for possible environmental catastrophes?" (19/02/2008)

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All available articles from » Welina Gospodinowa

Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány has announced a new programme for property owners, according to which remaining state assets will be privatised. The population will be able to buy parcels of shares, as a means to encourage their purchase of property. Gyurcsány hopes thereby to achieve a "new gentrification". Endre Aczél doubts whether Hungarian workers are really hot after property: "I'm pretty sure the average Hungarian will have the same reaction as did the British letter carriers who bought employee shares from Margaret Thatcher when she privatised British Telecom: 'When I can resell them for ten times the price, I'll take a trip to Thailand'. ... The Gyurcsány administration would be better off setting parameters designed to stimulate the interest of the average Joe in long-term stockholding. That could even lend credibility to his argument that citizens only become real citizens through property ownership." (19/02/2008)

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The daily gives its reaction to the British government's nationalisation of Northern Rock, a bank specialising in home loans which almost went bankrupt in early September 2007. "Nationalisation looks like an interim measure until market conditions improve and a private-sector buyer emerges to allow the British government to recoup the bulk of its investment ... Northern Rock is the first European casualty of the subprime crisis [mortgage loans to high-risk borrowers] and there are many reasons to believe that it will be the only one. But the inability of the UK's economic and bank authorities so far to put Northern Rock back on an even keel - nationalisation is the last course of action after long months of uncertainty - is not going to help restore trust, which is, after all, the basis of any banking system." (19/02/2008)

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Philippe Mathonnet visited the Europop exhibition at the Kunsthaus in Zurich. "Although the concept of pop art was born in the mid-1950s in the UK, American artists (Roy Lichtenstein, Tom Wesselmann, Andy Warhol) gave it its full dimension ... At the same time European pop art, which assumed more diverse forms, faded into oblivion. The intention of this exhibition is to highlight this European treasure trove. Some 100 works by 24 European artists have been selected. They come from 10 countries. Paintings by Warhol, Lichtenstein, and Wesselman are presented in counterpoint to underscore the duality of pop art trends on either side of the Atlantic. As well as attesting the newborn interdependence between Western Europe and the USA, the trends enshrine an identical perception." (19/02/2008)

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British teenagers will no longer face a one-off oral test in language GCSE exams under plans to be announced later this week. Philip Hensher does not understand the point of doing away with oral exams. "For generations, the English approach to language teaching has been heavily denigrated, in that it focused mainly on reading and writing skills at the expense of speech. The A-level of 25 years ago regularly produced students, like me, who could confidently write an essay or get through a novel by Flaubert, but who tended to break into blushing confusion when asked an elementary question by a stranger. The abandonment of the oral exam can only be a lowering of the standards required for a foreign language exam, and a further step away from the ideal of producing people who can actually talk to a foreign person in their own language." (19/02/2008)

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Reinhard Wolff reports that the Danish communications expert Klaus Kjøller accuses the Ikea furniture company of "Swedish imperialism." The reason is the product descriptions. "Why should one wipe one's dirty feet on Køge, before treading on Nästved and Sindal? 'Doormats and runners are third-class, if not seventh-class, when it comes to apartment design. Nothing is lower than floor covering,' complains Klaus Kjøller. A quick glance into the Ikea catalogue provides enough evidence: The thing about 'Danish' doormats is right. The more expensive furniture combinations on the other hand are given Swedish names. And the neighbouring country of Norway has a few beds named after it. ... In this emotional debate that was launched in a Copenhagen paper, a solution was suggested: Carlsberg should give its alcohol-free or low-alcohol beers Swedish names. And the Danish reaction would be interesting, if the idea gets around that an Ikea toilet seat is called 'Öresund' - after the strait between Denmark and Sweden." (19/02/2008)

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All available articles from » Reinhard Wolff