The daily assumes that "the eagerness to host [Gaddafi], and the high consideration he receives for a rather long visit, does not glorify France. By not demanding any condition for closer links with Tripoli, Paris is giving a 'carte blanche' to an old dictator, whose main asset appears to be petrodollars. Unlike Angela Merkel, who defends human rights and democratic values anywhere, Mr. Sarkozy takes advantage of Europe's inability to adopt a common position on these issues, to strategically approach leaders who are less keen to respect freedoms. It is not unusual to enter into dialogue with Libya, an important African and Mediterranean country. But France's position seems tied by a still mysterious agreement, which presided over the nurses' liberation, on July 24th." (10/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Relaciones internacionales, » Política de la UE, » Alemania, » Francia, » Europa, » Libia

"Diplomacy is an art of nuance and Sarkozy doesn't know half-measures", notes the French political scientist Dominique Moïsi, working for the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI), in an interview by Massimo Nava. "Sarkozy overacts or underacts. He's not good at diplomacy, and controversy is justified, not only on this occasion. I refer to his hugging [George] Bush, and his congratulating Putin. This visit could have been more low profile (...). All this follows a certain logic : Sarkozy's image sticks to big companies. His diplomacy is mercantile. This can be legitimate and be a benefit to the economy, but it needs to be said without hypocrisy. Sarkozy promised more Europe, but it seems to me that there's more France in his vision." (11/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Relaciones internacionales, » Francia
Todos los textos disponible de » Dominique Moïsi, » Massimo Nava

Adding to the protests against Gaddafi's arrival predictably voiced by France's left, French Secretary of State for Human Rights Rama Yade declared that France "is not a doormat on which a leader, whether a terrorist or not, can wipe the blood of his evil deeds off his feet." According to the daily, "parts of France hold on to moral values, and defend human rights. For them, Gaddafi's visit is not just embarrassing. It's a real insult. Not only will Gaddafi be meeting with Sarkozy, but he will be attending the National Assembly, French democracy's temple, and network with business executives. The Libyan leader will purchase Airbus airplanes, a nuclear power station and military weapons for 10 billion euros. Unashamedly, the French president has justified this invitation, saying that Gaddafi is respectable again ... ." (11/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Relaciones internacionales, » Comercio, » Francia, » Europa, » Libia

"The diplomatic shake-up to which Sarkozy has subjected the moral integrity of his intellectual supporters in the name of his catchword 'rupture' has reached new heights with Gaddafi's five-day visit," Joseph Hanimann writes. "Intellectuals like [André] Glucksmann were used to a meek or at worst condescending reaction from politicians to their protests. The defiance and smugness with which Sarkozy and his team follow through their decisions are disrupting the traditional behaviour patterns of intellectuals. Hence, the strongest protests against the Libyan's official visit came not from the intellectuals but from government circles. The frank words of Secretary of State for Human Rights Rama Yade, who said that France was no doormat for dictators to wipe their dirty shoes on, are circulating like a magic formula among the opponents of the visit." (11/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Relaciones internacionales, » Ideología, » Francia, » Libia
Todos los textos disponible de » Joseph Hanimann

German writer Wolf Lepenies analyses the controversy triggered by an article in 'Time' Magazine on the death of French culture. "The French see their criticism of themselves, which occasionally reaches the point of entirely surrendering their identity, as a privilege which they are loathe to relinquish to outsiders - much less to Americans, who are basically still supposed to regard Europe as the source of their own culture. ... The impertinence of the Americans in daring to pronounce judgement on French culture has its compensation in the recent rapprochement between American and French politicians. The Americans would never have dared announce the 'death' of French culture if relations between the two countries had not improved considerably in recent times. Among those to blame for the anger of many French 'immortals' is their very president, 'Sarko l'Américain'." (10/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Relaciones internacionales, » Película, » Artes gráficas, » Literatura, » Francia, » EE.UU.
Todos los textos disponible de » Wolf Lepenies

In an interview with Andrei Manolescu, Romanian political scientist Stelian Tanase talks about intellectuals in Romania's neo-capitalist system. "The intellectuals are among the big losers ... because the main problem for today's intellectuals is that there's no demand for their products. When you don't sell more than 1,000 copies of a book - and I'm talking about a successful book here - you start asking yourself why you bother writing, not necessarily because you're vain but because all authors need to provoke a certain response to realise their true value, and under these conditions an author doesn't receive the necessary support. Many intellectuals earn their living doing other things and lower their value as a result. This is not opportunism but a form of survival in a society that doesn't provide sufficient prestige." (11/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Cultura cotidiana, » Rumania
Todos los textos disponible de » Andrei Manolescu, » Stelian Tănase

"In less than a month, the rotating presidency of the European Union will pass to Slovenia, the first chunk of Yugoslavia to gain independence 16 years ago", notes the weekly. "As the Slovenes take their turn chairing the EU's summits and ministerial councils, their biggest job will be to oversee what could be the last chapter of Yugoslavia's break-up. Some time between January and the spring, the predominantly Albanian province of Kosovo will declare itself independent of Serbia, against the wishes of Russia, Serbia's ally, but with the blessing of America and much of the EU. ... In Brussels and national capitals, opinion is divided as to whether it is bad or good for Slovenia to be in the chair for the Kosovo crisis. ... Slovenia brings to the EU unique knowledge of the region ... . Slovenia is not going to resolve the Kosovo crisis. But the symbolism of its presidency is important, and well-timed." (06/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Relaciones internacionales, » Política de la UE, » Eslovenia, » Europa

Russia's president Vladimir Putin has named Dmitry Medvedev as candidate to succeed him. "Putin has chosen a successor who will be able to represent his vast country abroad in a cultured manner, who has experience in state government and the economy and who is well-known in Russia," comments the Hungarian journalist Gábor Miklós. "Although his CV is considerably more presentable than those of his rivals, there's very little difference between Medvedev's views and those of Putin. Therefore it's questionable whether there will be any changes in Russian policy over the coming months. In the past few years Putin has restricted the local governments' room for manoeuvre, made things difficult for his political rivals and civilian organisations, nationalised the media and made the economy subordinate to the state. We will see whether Medvedev won the favour of his patron with original ideas or by being his loyal civil servant." (11/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política interior, » Rusia
Todos los textos disponible de » Gábor Miklós

Relations between Russia and Belarus have cooled considerably over the past few months. Aris Jansons examines why Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to visit the Belarusian president next week. "Putin and Lukashenko will no doubt talk about gas. Belarus has no alternative for its supplies, but because Moscow is on a confrontation course with the West it can't afford to start another gas war with one of its allies. Minsk can expect to continue paying a discount price for its gas at least until the presidential elections in Russia. Nonetheless, relations between the two countries are no longer purely defined by good will and Moscow will demand its price. Part of it will be unquestioning loyalty from Minsk." (11/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Relaciones internacionales, » Energía, » Rusia
Todos los textos disponible de » Āris Jansons

Sinn Féin, the Republican party, has been sharing executive power with the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland since May 2007. The daily notes how it is adjusting. "Transforming a party of protest into a party of government will not be easy, particularly when the pressure for change is so obviously external. ... There was much talk at Sinn Féin's weekend conference in Dublin about a need to become comfortable with words like 'prosperity' and 'economic opportunity'. ... Change was also evident in the party's attitude towards Europe. With a referendum on the EU reform treaty due next year, Mr Adams committed Sinn Féin to campaigning for a 'No' vote while, at the same time, accepting that Ireland's place is within the European Union. ... Doing things differently is easier said than done, particularly within a party structured like Sinn Féin where discipline and obedience are favoured above imagination and innovation." (11/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política interior, » Gran Bretaña, » Irlanda

The daily greets the creation of a Franco-Spanish investigation police unit, in charge of dealing with the Basque separatist organisation ETA. "France has long been a sanctuary for ETA, allowing commando units to act with intolerable freedom of movement. While trying to convince their Northern allies that terrorism obeys no political logic, the Spanish governments was confronted with French leaders' haughty attitude. The establishment of Spanish democracy, followed by its entry into a Europe border-free, as well as the progressive awareness of barbarism and the sense that ETA demands have spread violence in the French Basque region, have led to a radical change of position. This means the beginning of the end for ETA." (11/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Relaciones internacionales, » Política de seguridad / Crisis / Guerras, » Francia, » España

In an interview with Dirk Vanoverbeke, the political scientist Stefaan Walgrave expresses his concern over the escalating isolation of communities in Belgium, which has been deprived of a government for six months. "Whereas misunderstanding previously arose between northern and southern politicians, tension is being crystallized in the actual media, which is judged irresponsible. This represents a new and worrying escalation in the conflict which is now a problem in society and no longer just political. This is the first time a political conflict has become a media conflict. Polarisation is being accentuated. This is dangerous. ... What bothers me on both sides of the media divide is that there is so little comprehension and empathy regarding the positions defended by politicians." (11/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política interior, » Medios de comunicación impresos, » Bélgica
Todos los textos disponible de » Stefaan Walgrave, » Dirk Vanoverbeke

Madeleine Bunting comments on a recent collision between police and street artist Ben Wilson who paints "in enamels, with great delicacy, a picture on the discarded gum that litters urban pavements. ... But nothing prepared him for what happened a few months ago. Arrested and charged with criminal damage in front of a crowd of horrified tourists, he ended up being punched and dragged across a police cell. The story illustrates what little space is left for spontaneity, or even the gentlest subversion, on our streets. ... Once at the station, he was told they wanted a DNA sample. ... Has fear so cowed us that we are prepared to offer up so much - the culture of our streets, our very own DNA with the genetic code whose significance we are still unravelling - to the discretion of the police and the state?" (11/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Artes gráficas, » Cultura cotidiana, » Gran Bretaña
Todos los textos disponible de » Madeleine Bunting

Women and homosexuals have reached a turning point in Poland - but only in literary circles for now, writes Marta Kijowska: "Just as most female writers keep their distance from the women's movement, gay authors have taken little action to promote the cause of their 'sisters'. However they don't really have to : with their books and the public admission of their homosexuality they contribute more to the movement than anyone else. And this contribution is bitterly needed. The intolerance towards anything different fanned by the defeated Kaczynski government was repeatedly criticised, but in the case of homosexuals it fell on fertile ground. Only recently, 84 % of respondents in a survey said they couldn't imagine a gay politician at the helm of the Polish state." (11/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Literatura, » Polonia
Todos los textos disponible de » Marta Kijowska

"When an Estonian and a Finn talk to each, other the former often gets the feeling the latter is not even listening," Ants Juske notes and goes on to explain why. "The Finns wait until the person they are talking to has finished what he's saying, while we're in the habit of interrupting and thus taking control of the conversation. This goes for all our communication. If you compare talk shows on Finnish TV with Estonian ones, ours are much livelier : the Estonians use their hands and facial expressions much more than their northern neighbours. Is this owing to the influence of Russian culture, or is it just the fact that we're the more southerly of the two nations?" (10/12/2007)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Cultura cotidiana, » Medios de comunicación audiovisuales, » Estonia, » Finlandia
Todos los textos disponible de » Ants Juske