The recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia could have internal implications for Russia, comments The Guardian in its leading article: "Whatever precedent the west may have set by recognising Kosovo, Georgia's breakaway states are only a mountain range away from Russia's own separatist troublespots. ... If Abkhazia or South Ossetia are nation states, then why not Chechnya? ... More important than the parliamentary vote is Mr Medvedev's statement yesterday that breaking off all relations with NATO would be no great loss for Russia. ... Only sustained international pressure might persuade Russia to pull back to the positions it occupied pre-August 7, when Georgian forces attacked South Ossetia. That can only now come from France and Germany, the countries that resisted US pressure to offer Georgia NATO membership." (26/08/2008)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » Georgian Republic

The daily Rzeczpospolita condemns the vote of the Russian parliament, describing it as an imperial gesture. "An official separation of Abkhazia and Ossetia would be a further humiliation for [Georgian] President Michail Saakashvili, who is a passionate advocate of Georgia's independence and whom Moscow wants to remove from power and replace with a politician like his predecessor Eduard Shevardnadze - one who depends on Russia. This is another step towards rebuilding the empire and at the same time blocking alternative fuel sources for Europe that flow from the Caspian Sea through Georgia to the West. Despite Moscow's rebellious statements, the West - including the EU - can still thwart Russia's plans, but only if it pulls itself together and recognises the danger. Poland can assume a key role if foreign policy makes way for reasons of state and the president and prime minister are able to reach an agreement on this." (26/08/2008)

» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » Georgian Republic
All available articles from » Bronislaw Wildstein

The Frankfurter Rundschau puts a share of the blame for the Russian parliament's support for the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia firmly on the West: "Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from Georgia and elected their own governments long ago. Nevertheless the borders of Georgia from which the territories are now being surgically removed were considered binding. However France's President Nicolas Sarkozy failed to safeguard them during his recent trip. What he did not have with him was a clause on the integrity of the Georgian state. To all intents and purposes that gave Moscow carte blanche to go ahead and annex a foreign country - a truly outrageous move. If it were not for the precedent in Kosovo, Russia would now have to be brandmarked as singularly imperialistic." (26/08/2008)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » Europe, » U.S., » Georgian Republic
All available articles from » Karl Grobe

Gândul newspaper reflects on the future of the two secessionist provinces: "The outcome of the vote in both Russian chambers of parliament was just like in Soviet times: perfect unanimity, both in the Federation Council and in the Duma. It is indeed telling that even the lifeless Russian opposition believes that recognising the republics is an important step for the Russian federation. The vote is not binding, and Prime Minister Putin continues to have a free hand. But it does give Russia's Prime Minister-President what he needs: a new 'currency' to negotiate with the West and the 'right' granted by the Russian legislature to station weapons and soldiers in the secessionist provinces. ... It is still unclear what the future holds for the two protected regions - the economic reserve of the Russian motherland. For now it looks as if they will become havens for weapons and illegal trade, far from NATO's watchful eye. Particularly worrying is that this is all taking place in the North Caucasus, a key region for Europe's energy security." (26/08/2008)

» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Enlargement / Neighbourhood Policy, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Energy Policy, » Russia, » Asia, » Romania
All available articles from » Eliza Francu

Just months after Ireland's rejection of the Treaty of Lisbon, the country's Minister for Europe Dick Roche spoke out in favour of a new referendum. Cardinal Sean Brady then responded that Christians feel a growing scepticism about the European project, and that this was one of the reasons for the No. The Irish Independent comments on the renewed discussion over the Treaty of Lisbon: "Both are to be commended, for they have replaced a storm of self-serving verbiage with a profound insight and a brave proposal. ... Those who fear a drift away from Christian values did not vote 'No' on specific issues but, as the cardinal says, from general unease. And the EU has not imposed secularism on us. We have to work out these questions for ourselves. We also have to work out our place in Europe. Mr Roche puts forward the daring view that we may have to hold another referendum. ... It may offer us the only way out of the present dilemma. But whether or not it works, it will not answer the more profound questions posed by Cardinal Brady." (25/08/2008)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Constitution, » Domestic Policy, » Ireland

The liberal weekly Respekt notes with concern an increasing divide in Central and Eastern Europe on the subject of Russia. It points out that while Poland has condemned Russia's conduct, other leaders like Robert Fico have taken sides with Moscow, and adds that the temptation for Fico to change the character of his country and its foreign policy is only likely to grow with time. "In two years Viktor Orbán, who is just as much of a populist as Fico, will probably win the elections in Hungary. In that time Fico's friend Jiří Paroubek (an opponent of the US missile defence shield) could be in power in the Czech Republic. And Václav Klaus (who also backs Russia against Georgia) would still be president. ... All the Russians need to do is wait patiently for what they tried to bring about in the 1990s, namely the division of Europe, to happen of its own accord." (26/08/2008)

» more information (external link, Czech)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Central Europe, » Eastern Europe
All available articles from » Martin M. Šimečka

With an eye to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to Estonia the daily Postimees comments on the strained relations between Germany and Estonia: "Even if it is a highly inconvenient time to point this out: [Germany's] ex-chancellor Gerhard Schröder was not always an outcast in Estonia. When he replaced [Helmut] Kohl in 1998 many things became easier for Estonia because the sauna meetings with [Russian President Boris] Yeltsin came to an end. The Estonians were at last granted visa exemption and the German government's move to Berlin reinforced hopes that Germany would give relations with the East greater priority. We know only too well what actually came to pass: the great friendship with [Yeltsin's successor Vladimir] Putin and finally the agreement for the construction of a gas pipeline running under the Baltic. When Angela Merkel comes to Estonia today she will at least receive a warmer welcome than her predecessor. Let us hope that she does not succumb to the temptations of populism and that she listens to what Estonian politicians have to say, not least on the subject of Georgia." (26/08/2008)

» full article (external link, Estonian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Germany, » Estonia
All available articles from » Erkki Bahovski

The next round has begun in the debate over the conflict between Denmark's stringent immigration regulations and EU law. In its leading article the conservative daily Berlingske Tidende accuses Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of idleness in this matter. "Denmark needs an immigration policy with strict regulations stipulating how many and what kind of immigrants we take in. This is why the decline of our immigration policy this summer raises worrying questions. ... It is difficult to see any opportunity for a new sense of trust between the conservative ruling coalition and the Danish People's Party in a 'strict but fair' immigration policy. But worst of all is the fact that it was not the government but the media that brought the problems to our attention. The prime minister's contribution was merely an attempt to trivialise the situation. ... That is certainly not advisable." (26/08/2008)

» full article (external link, Danish)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Migration, » Integration, » Denmark

Spanish sociologist Ignacio Sánchez-Cuenca analyses in the daily El País the motivations of past terrorist organisations in Europe and draws a parallel with terrorist groups active in Europe today: "In our societies the prevalent view is that terrorism is born of poverty and oppression. But anyone who approaches the subject scientifically knows that many terrorist groups emerged in developed democracies. ... It is easy to confirm that terrorism possesses an almost universal quality. It results from a sense of frustration. ... The inventors of modern terrorism, the anarchists of the late 19th century, chose the 'propaganda of facts' when they realised that the masses did not possess the revolutionary consciousness they had hoped for. ... The Russian Nihilists encountered the same problem in their times. ... The wave of left-wing revolutionary terrorist groups in the 1970s can be seen to some extent as the answer of the most radical to a weakening in ... the mass protests revolving around May 1968. ... They wanted to compensate for the lack of social support for their own position with armed violence. ... Even in the case of al-Qaeda, a group the peculiarities of which have made its allocation to an existing category impossible, you find the same basic scheme. Al-Qaeda emerged as the result of failed attempts to establish Islamist governments." (26/08/2008)

» full article (external link, Spanish)
More from the press review on the subject » Social movements, » Crime and Law, » Europe, » Global
All available articles from » Ignacio Sánchez-Cuenca

Greece must be better prepared for the growing number of tourists from the countries of Southeast Europe, the daily I Kathimerini admonishes. "The number of tourists from Southeast Europe has ... topped one million - that is 20 percent more than last year. Our tourism sector has struck gold ... and must make the most ... of this opportunity. Emphasising the high quality of our tourism product is not enough. We need to make it easier for our future customers, who are faced with conditions like those in the 1980s. For example, when a Russian from Siberia wants a visa for Greece he has to make a five-hour flight to Moscow and wait for two or three days in a queue at the consulate. ... But employees in the tourism branch also need to revise their views. The times when they could talk of 'hungry' Bulgarians, Romanians and Albanians or of Russian 'mafiosi' are over." (26/08/2008)

» full article (external link, Greek)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Tourism, » Greece, » South East Europe
All available articles from » Stavros Tsimas

France has one of the highest birth rates in Europe. Les Echos newspaper looks at the reasons behind the country's high birthrate. "Without doubt this is the sole statistic that France can be proud of in these times of uncertainty. The national fertility rate reached two children per woman in 2006, a European record. ... But before rejoicing too soon, one should investigate the reasons for this rise. ... There is only one explanation: French men and women fear globalisation, and doubt the competence of their institutions in solving problems. ... Nevertheless they set much stock in carrying out their own personal projects, for which the child is the most congenial symbol. ... Why then don't other Europeans, especially the Germans and Italians ... follow their example? ... Analyses stress two French trumps: a generous, better managed family policy and a legal deregulation that makes it easier for people to attain independence." (26/08/2008)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Demographics, » France, » Europe

The German consumer advice centre in the state of Schleswig-Holstein recently uncovered a massive case of customer data abuse. Call centres across Europe now have access to the German data, Focus magazine reports. "Experts observe that unimpressed by the scandalising reports of stolen data, ... consumers are still being lured by international data collection scams as if nothing had happened. ... The Federal Republic is in a data trap. Reports surface on a daily basis about the mind-boggling extent of the data theft. King Customer now watches in amazement as his address, telephone and bank information are transmitted throughout the country, passed back and forth between disreputable enterprises and big name companies on the one hand, and dubious call centres and their subsidiaries on the other." (25/08/2008)

» more information (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Crime and Law, » Corporations, » Consumers, » Germany, » Europe
All available articles from » H. Kistenfeger, » B. Siedenburg, » T. van Zütphen

Robert Ménard, secretary-general of the non-governmental organisation Reporters Without Borders, criticises in the weekly magazine Le Nouvel Observateur the way the press was treated during the Olympic Games and French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to China: "Journalists were indeed free to go about their work to a much greater extent than they have been in the past in China. But this does not alter the fact that around twenty journalists were maltreated, beaten and arrested. ... For a year now we have no longer been able to talk of a political opening in China. A year ago ... we could talk to the Chinese authorities. Now this is impossible. ... There will be no more cameras [on location]. The 20,000 journalists who were responsible for coverage of the games will leave. ... The diplomats will try to do their work effectively. But Nicolas Sarkozy changed his mind, and I can no longer rely on him. ... By agreeing to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games our president stabbed us in the back. He let us down." (25/08/2008)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Media policy, » Global, » China
All available articles from » Sibylle Laurent

The brutal attack on two Dutch citizens in Rome has led to a political dispute which culminated in the mayor of Rome saying it was the victims' own fault. De Telegraaf newspaper suspects the mayor's remarks are motivated by domestic policy considerations. "Apart from the fact that we do not know why the couple chose precisely this spot to set up camp, it is in the worst possible taste to use their tragedy to clear one's own political reputation. Naturally the two suspects who have now been arrested were entirely responsible for their acts and no one can blame Rome's municipal authorities. But by talking about it being the victims' 'own fault' the mayor is making it clear that he is oblivious to the feelings of the Dutch victims, who certainly did not ask for all this. If the mayor of Rome is unable to keep his election promises he cannot blame the unsafe situation in his region on two unsuspecting holidaymakers." (26/08/2008)

» more information (external link, Dutch)
More from the press review on the subject » Crime and Law, » Tourism, » Italy, » Netherlands