Karl Grobe speculates on whether George Bush and Dick Cheney were informed about the intelligence report before its publication: "If they did know, then Bush's bellicose talk in October about the danger of a third world war was at the very least reckless. This would mean the plans to install missile defence bases in Poland and the Czech Republic as quickly as possible were ideologically motivated rather than rationally justifiable - whereby the ideological cocktail had two ingredients besides the professed explanation: the intention of showing the Russians who's boss once and for all, and the desire to split Europe up into the evil old states and the good new ones. Perhaps the references to Teheran were a means to this end. Regardless of whether it was the result of ignorance - which boils down to recklessness - or superior knowledge, the Bush Administration owes some explanations to its European allies - but not along the lines of those given by Bush on Tuesday that his administration is always right." (05/12/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, niemiecki)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » USA, » Cały świat, » Bliski i Środkowy Wschód
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Karl Grobe

Czech government officials have announced that the negotiations with the US for the installation of a radar station will continue despite the publication of the American intelligence report. Jan Rybář comments: "The Czechs and the Americans will have to reckon with a merciless campaign by the opponents of the radar station, whom the US has now provided with solid arguments in their favour. And Vladimir Putin, who has described the radar as anti-Russian rather than anti-Iranian, must see this as an early Christmas gift. ... But no doubt there are still good arguments for the construction of the radar station. This is not just about protection from Iran, but also from any country that could get hold of dangerous weapons. It doesn't have to be nuclear weapons; it could be biological or conventional weapons that Iran brings into play. Who knows what the situation will be five or ten years from now?" (05/12/2007)

» Strona www (Link zewnętrzny, Mladá fronta Dnes)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » Polityka bezpieczeństwa / Kryzys / Wojna, » Czechy, » USA, » Iran
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Jan Rybář

Christian Ultsch warns that it would be foolish to slacken controls on Iran. "The intelligence report plays right into Iran's hands. Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki immediately declared that now the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme should be clear to the whole world. Naturally this is just propaganda, for Mottaki made no mention of an important part of the analysis: namely that US intelligence agencies are 'almost certain' that Iran was working on building a nuclear bomb before autumn 2003. It only stopped the programme as a result of international pressure, but it could resume at any time. The Iranians possess the technical know-how - and they enrich uranium (which they are permitted to do), albeit not in such quantities to justify fears of an apocalypse. ... If the pressure eases now and a closely-knit network of inspectors is not established, Iran will start to build the bomb again." (05/12/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, niemiecki)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » USA, » Cały świat, » Bliski i Środkowy Wschód
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Christian Ultsch

Columnist Gideon Rachman points out how small countries are often better off. "It is true that a unilateral declaration of Kosovan independence could cause a new crisis in the Balkans. But if the formation of new countries can be achieved peacefully, it is usually a cause for celebration. This is the age of the small state. Look at almost any league table of national welfare and small countries dominate. ... Of the five most populous countries in the world, only the US is rich. Brazil, China, India and Indonesia are growing fast, but they still rank as developing nations. Governing them presents awesome challenges. ... Above all, small countries tend to be more homogenous. This makes them less prone to civil strife or dictatorship. It also means higher levels of social trust – which may be why small Scandinavian states are willing to spend so much on health and education and fare so well on human development indices." (04/12/2007)

» Dalsze informacje (Link zewnętrzny, angielski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » Polityka wewnętrzna, » Cały świat
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Gideon Rachman

The Spanish writer Julio Llamazares regrets that his compatriots are unable to debate serenely. "The world is full of loud-mouths who don't listen to others and don't let others speak. In Spain this situation appears to be a social pathology .... .This results in a deafening country, bitter and vehement, in which everyone knows everything about everything and where it is impossible to get anyone to change their opinion. A country in which anyone well brought-up and respectful, who listens before discreetly opining is condemned to not being able to express themself. This doesn't bother them so much, for, as Felosio said, we are living in a world where no one manages to convince anyone of anything else. This is particularly the case in Spain, where vociferations and hoo-ha invade all places ... . It is thus only by shouting that one can try to be heard, therefore adding to the noise." (04/12/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, hiszpański)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka wewnętrzna, » Hiszpania
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Julio Llamazares

Once again Finland occupied a top position in the Pisa study. Johanna Westman reflects on how the country can maintain its ranking: "One of the weak points is the great gap between boys and girls. In addition, one in ten of Finland's 15-year-olds is unhappy at school - that's twice as many as in Sweden. This minority manages to struggle on, but it lacks motivation, and this is a serious shortcoming in a society in which life-long learning is a prerequisite for a successful career. ... What's more, Finland could drop behind if immigration increases and more children of foreign extraction enter its primary schools, approaching conditions in Sweden or Denmark. If primary schools are unprepared, Finland's performance could suffer dramatically." (05/12/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, szwedzki)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Finlandia, » Dania, » Szwecja
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Johanna Westman

While Austria still occupies a middling position in the Pisa study, Poland has leapt from the bottom of the ranking to a leading position as far as the reading skills of 15-year-olds are concerned. According to Alexandra Föderl-Schmid, Austria should follow Poland's example: "Poland implemented an education reform in 2000. One element was that the age at which students are allocated to different types of school was raised from 15 to 16 years. ... This should provide food for thought to all those who strongly oppose the idea of the Neue Mittelschule (standardised school). The Pisa study provides a further argument: the international comparison demonstrates once more that parents play a key role in the performance of their children. The children of university graduates tend to perform better. With regards to Austria, the OECD points to the fact that the sooner children are sent to different types of schools, the greater impact family background has on a pupil's performance. This is another reason to at least try out the Neue Mittelschule concept." (05/12/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, niemiecki)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polska, » Austria, » Cały świat
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Alexandra Föderl-Schmid

Despite the signing of several commercial contracts on December 4th, the visit to Algeria paid by French president Nicolas Sarkozy was somewhat tense, due to ill feeling over France's colonial past. The editorialist Laurent Joffrin urges the president, who made no official apology, to make a gesture in order to improve Franco-Algerian relations. "Repentance ? That word has a religious dimension, is doleful even, which makes it improper. But the actual act is legitimate, necessary. A gesture, a strong declaration is essential to at last distance this colonial legacy that is still poisoning, 40 years later, relations between France and Algeria. ... The French should indeed make the first move, but the Algerians should follow suite. Otherwise the ill memory of the Franco-Algerian past will continue to damage the inevitable relations between these two shores of the Mediterranean." (05/12/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, francuski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » Historia, » Francja, » Afryka
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Laurent Joffrin

Several thousands of Spanish demonstrators paid a brief tribute on December 4th to the civil guard killed in France last weekend by the Basque separatist organisation ETA. This was the first anti-ETA demonstration called by the entire political class and Spanish trade unions since 2004. The daily salutes this initiative, but regrets how precarious this unity is. "The wounds in relations between the two major parties [the Socialist Party and Popular Party] over anti-terrorism policy are still very fresh and the gap is still too wide. ... Terrorism has settled in the very heart of partisan rivalries and it is going to be difficult to extract it from there. ... The parties are indeed continuing to talk about unity to conquer ETA but this unity is so fragile that it barely survived a five minute demonstration." (05/12/2007)

» Strona www (Link zewnętrzny, La Vanguardia)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka bezpieczeństwa / Kryzys / Wojna, » Polityka wewnętrzna, » Hiszpania

Slovakia's constitutional court has upheld abortion legislation which originated in socialist times allowing women to have an abortion up to the twelfth week of pregnancy. At the same time it has shortened the deadline for abortions owing to possible genetic defects in the unborn child from 24 weeks to 12 weeks. Zora Bútorová and Jarmila Filadelfiová welcome the ruling: "Demographic studies show that the number of abortions has gone down by more than 70 percent - without tightening the laws. ... There is continued consensus on three conditions under which an abortion should be permitted: when the health of the mother is endangered, when there is serious damage to the unborn or when a pregnancy is the result of rape. The rapid decrease in the number of abortions shows that since 1989 the sense of responsibility of both women and men on this issue has increased considerably." (05/12/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, słowacki)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Zdrowie / Medycyna, » Demografia, » Słowacja
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Zora Bútorová, » Jarmila Filadelfiová

On January 1st, 2008, Cyprus will be joining the eurozone. This is worrying a number of inhabitants. "A large majority of Cypriots are sceptical regarding the benefits of the single currency. They are right. The matter of most concern is a hike in prices, or rather the rounding off rising prices. If Cyprus today finds itself in 17th position for purchasing power among the 40 European countries [in a study carried out by the GfK institute], it will find itself catapulted to last in line as soon as it adopts the euro. ... Cyprus is going to enter a European price zone with Cypriot buying power. ... The budgetary surplus of 1.5 % can indeed continue to be the pride of the government, along with the very weak unemployment rate, but reality is tough on a day to day basis. And Cypriot morale may well sink to a low as a result." (04/12/2007)

» Strona www (Link zewnętrzny, Phileleftheros)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka wewnętrzna, » Polityka gospodarcza, » Cypr, » Europa

The trade unions of the Scala, Milan's opera house, have lifted the threat of a strike that had been looming over the opening night of opera season on December 7th. Employees were demanding a pay rise and a change of working hours. "So there won't be a strike then. The musicians may however descend into the pit wearing white shirts edged with black [and not in the traditional tuxedos]", notes Paola Zonca. "The opening night of December 7th has been saved ... . Common sense has won. Everyone has thought of the future, of lost box office intake were the opening night to have been cancelled, of Lissner [the director], of Barenboïm [The conductor], who have never worked in the Scala and now find themselves caught up in a typically Italian imbroglio. It would have been a sin to block a spectacle as fascinating 'Tristan and Isolde'." (05/12/2007)

» Strona www (Link zewnętrzny, La Repubblica)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Muzyka, » Włochy
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Paola Zonca

In an interview conducted by Jean-Claude Vantroyen, the French director Radu Mihaileanu explains his mission as ambassador in the context of the 2008 European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (EYID). He is one of seven ambassadors who have been named by the European Commission to prompt cultural exchange across Europe. "To travel all over Europe in order to reinforce communities' sense of their richness, culture, identity, to plead in favour of other cultures and other identities. ... We ambassadors are the go-betweens, ferrymen, guides. "[I feel like a go-between] as an artist and because I have a fortunate background. I was born in Romania; I am French, as well as Jewish, European and universal. ... It is good that Europe is calling upon artists, rather than bureaucrats. We artists are used to working with people, to listening to them to, bringing them together and reinforcing their richness." (05/12/2007)

» Dalsze informacje (Link zewnętrzny, francuski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Literatura, » Muzyka, » Europa
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Radu Mihaileanu, » Jean-Claude Vantroyen

The trial against Constantin Plevris, a lawyer and neo-Nazi militant who signed an anti-Semitic book ('Jews: the Whole Truth') was resumed on December 3rd. In a previous hearing held in November, his attorney defended the "scientific character" of this work. The journalist Antonis Karkagiannis informs us that "the parts of the 1,400 page book that are contested are notably those explaining that 'the only thing they [Jews] understand is the death squad within 24 hours', or those stating the necessity to bring back the gas chambers. ... These are the ideas of a madman, you will say. But this is not quite so. Anti-Semitism is a form of madness in itself, a hysterical illness which numerous authoritarian regimes including Hitler's have used to justified oppression. ... Plevris has also sent me his book with a note specifying that when speaking about anti-Semitism, I should also refer to the 'other side'. But which side is he talking about? That of hatred, crime, or fanaticism?" (05/12/2007)

» Strona www (Link zewnętrzny, Kathimerini)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Sztuki piękne, » Religia, » Grecja
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Antonis Karkagiannis

In the drawing of lots for the groups in the 2008 European Football Championship in Austria and Switzerland, Germany and Poland as well as Croatia and Austria ended up in the same group. In an interview with Kamil Gapiński, Jacek Krzynówek, who has been playing in Germany's Bundesliga for years now, dreams about Poland's first time in the competition: "It's great that we're playing against the Germans. After all, we have to get our own back for the defeat in the World Cup. ... There's not much to be said about the Croats; they're a very strong team, as their two victories against England prove. Austria has an interesting team. ... I think it's an excellent time to take on the Germans. We beat them for the first time ever in our debut at the European Championship - that sounds good, doesn't it?" (05/12/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, polski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Sport, » Polska, » Europa
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Jacek Krzynówek, » Kamil Gapiński

A recent survey showed that Romanians place little trust in their politicians. Andrei Postelnicu explains: "The Church is the institution in which the people place most trust, yet even so, priests ranked only seventh, behind firemen, pilots, scientists, doctors and chemists. This should make Patriarch Daniel think; he ranked only 47th among Romania's public figures. Politicians, too, received a blow - their profession came last in position 30, far behind bus drivers and hairdressers. ... Among film and sport celebrities, Nadia Comaneci and Gica Hagi, stars from times gone by, occupied the leading positions. To put it simply, the ranking shows that Romanians are taking refuge in nostalgia and fantasy worlds - the present is having to make way for the past." (05/12/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, rumuński)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Rumunia
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Andrei Postelnicu