euro|topics - Philippe Paquet

22/11/2008

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Paquet, Philippe

3 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.

La Libre Belgique - Belgium | 03/03/2008

Medvedev wins Russia's presidential election

Philippe Paquet wonders in his editorial "What were we able to observe on Sunday, [March 2nd] in Moscow? Nothing, apart from the sad spectacle of a large (theoretically) European country indulging in a parody of democracy. Among the achievements Putin's eight years in power are credited with, one of the most important is to have restored to a certain degree the honour of a nation that had been pretty much humiliated by the collapse of the USSR and the trials and tribulations of the Yeltsin era, during which social poverty and a mafia stronghold went hand in hand. Today Russia has regained its power and lustre. But if it is once again inspring fear, it has yet to inspire admiration."

La Libre Belgique - Belgium | 28/09/2007

The EU at loose ends over Burma

Facing the Burma crisis, "European consternation is dramatic", according to Philippe Paquet in his editorial. "The EU is paying the price for its 'engagement policy', which was supposed to make the Burmese generals more amiable. The generals' refusal to dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi or even give him residency status should have opened the eyes of Europeans a long time ago. There is thus something pathetic about this appeal to China asking it to exercise pressure on the junta. As is if a non-democratic country could exhort another to change its governmental methods! ... The rare tool Europeans have is the ASEAN - Association of Southeast Asia Nations - which, by accepting to be joined by Burma in 1997 jeopardized the quality of its relations with the EU."

La Libre Belgique - Belgium | 19/05/2006

Is Russia the beacon of human rights in Europe?

Philippe Paquet, explaining why he finds it so "singular" that Russia should be president of the Council of Europe, offers a list of worrying issues. "The government's appropriation of the media is another disturbing subject, along with the determination to tighten control over non-governmental organisations. Nor does the vital support that the Kremlin has given to the dictatorial regime in Belarus improve its image, Lukashenko's Belarus being the only European state not to be part of the Council, though it is a candidate. As if to better underscore the paradox raised by Russia's presidency, the Council's commission against racism published last Tuesday a scathing report on the tactics of the Russian police and its Cossack auxiliaries. The frequent attacks against foreign students were already enough to remind us that racism is deeply embedded in Russia, along with an intolerance of minorities, be they homosexuals or ... rappers."

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