With his decision to hand over responsibility for investigating the crimes of the past to Spain's regional courts, Garzón has left opening the mass graves to the country's autonomous regions. Rightly so, writes La Vanguardia newspaper. "In his decision, Garzón also evokes the invalidity of actions against Franco and 44 other high-level leaders for reasons of their death. This is understandable to everyone and clearly shows how absurd this judge's relentless undertakings were. Happily, his decision now removes responsibility for investigating the past in an open, harmonious way from the judiciary and hands it back to the political realm. Now the victims and their next of kin must be given the recognition they have been denied for so long. All the victims, without distinctions." (19/11/2008)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, hiszpański)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Ruchy społeczne, » Historia, » Hiszpania

The left-wing daily die tageszeitung voices surprise at the Spanish state prosecutors' failure to support Garzón's investigation, "considering that the number of victims amounted to tens of thousands. What is at issue here is a systematic wave of purges against all those who remained loyal to the democracy Franco toppled. Even international human rights organisations have accused Spain of not wanting to face its past. The bereaved are not the only ones to be shocked that a government that by law claims to champion the cause of remembering the past refuses to do this. It's a scandal. But once again it seems [Spain's Prime Minister] Zapatero is above all concerned with passing packages of legislation that look good in the headlines. Once things get concrete he does the same as all his predecessors did before him. He lifts the carpet then sweeps all the dirt under it." (19/11/2008)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, niemiecki)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka wewnętrzna, » Historia, » Hiszpania
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Reiner Wandler

The Italian daily Corriere della Sera suspects that Garzón's decision to drop the investigation is a strategic move. "There are those who interpret Garzón's decision as a withdrawal and those who see it as a clever countermove. ... The judge is withdrawing before the Sala Penale, the criminal court of the Audiencia Nacional [National Court of Spain], can exclude him from the proceedings at the behest of the state prosecutors. This way Garzón has pre-empted his opponents and passed responsibility on to the 20 regional courts, thus thwarting the plans to have the investigation definitively shelved. The judge has simply distributed his files among the investigations offices of the 20 provinces in which mass graves have been found, as well as the criminal court and the ministry of justice, to whom he passed on the files together with the notification that he had already set up a special panel of experts to deal with the technicalities of the opening of the mass graves." (19/11/2008)

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Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Hiszpania
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Elisabetta Rosaspina

Italy's highest court has ruled that the victims of Nazi massacres during World War II may bring suits before Italian courts on the grounds that the principle of state immunity does not apply in cases of crimes against humanity. The daily Süddeutsche Zeitung criticises the judgment. "Germany is not in a position to give the millions and millions of Nazi victims or their relatives all over the world adequate compensation. France and the UK would likewise be unable to compensate for the atrocities of their colonial rule in euros and pounds. Italy, too, incurred a heavy burden of guilt in places like North Africa. To settle accounts for the wrongs of the past would no doubt give the victims justice but it would also bring about the collapse of entire states. This is why the Berlusconi government is backing Germany in the compensation dispute - against its own courts. Rome and Berlin want the International Court of Justice to have the last word." (19/11/2008)

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Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » Historia, » Niemcy, » Włochy

Malta's Foreign Minister Tonio Borg writes in the Times of Malta about the establishment of a liaison office for Euro-Arab dialogue in his country: "It now depends on us to cultivate the Euro-Arab dialogue through this office - the first of this kind - the setting-up of which comes so close after the launching of this dialogue earlier this year in February. The joint letter signed by Commissioner [Benita] Ferrero-Waldner and Arab League secretary-general Amre Mousa makes specific reference to the Malta meeting and expressly states that the choice of Malta to host this new liaison office is no accident. ... The dialogue between Europe and the Arab world stems from political necessity. It is in the interest of the European continent to maintain a steady dialogue on a permanent basis and not in a haphazard way. The Arab League looks at Europe as a moderating influence in the Mediterranean region. ... Malta can wisely act as an honest broker in this dialogue which can guarantee peace and serenity in a region which has its fair share of troubles and tension." (19/11/2008)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, angielski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » Malta, » Bliski i Środkowy Wschód

After street fights between Czech police and members of a neo-Nazi organisation seeking to attack a Roma settlement in northern Bohemia, the Czech Interior Ministry is considering banning extreme right-wing organisations. The leftist daily Právo finds bans inadequate, writing that more must be done for the country's Roma population: "The clashes in Litvinov were not just between right-wing radicals and Roma. ... The alarming thing is that part of Litvinov's population supported the radicals. The Roma are cut off from society. Without daily social programmes in their communities and without years of educational work in schools, families, churches, associations and the media, bans on Nazis and their marches will remain ineffective." (19/11/2008)

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Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Integracja, » Mniejszości, » Czechy
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Petr Uhl

Somalian pirates have captured a Saudi Arabian oil tanker off the coast of Kenya loaded with crude valued at 100 million dollars. "They must be stopped," writes The Times: "The stranglehold on the world's busy shipping lanes is pushing up insurance costs, risking lives ... and giving terrorists linked to al-Qaeda a robust income and a deadly way of striking at the West. ... New laws, new rules of engagement and new strategies are needed. US warships in the Gulf may need to be mobilised, not least to escort shipping bound for North America through the most dangerous waters. Authorisation for the use of force against armed raiders and their bases must be radically streamlined, and captured pirates must be made to face justice, however harsh the local laws. ... Somalia is a failed state, lawless and bankrupt. It must not be abandoned." (19/11/2008)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, angielski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » Polityka bezpieczeństwa / Kryzys / Wojna, » Afryka, » USA

The climate and financial crises clearly show the need for a new, "legal-democratic" social system, writes Strømberg Hansen, an independent investor and member of the Danish Legal Association: "At the heart of the present system is an unsocial distribution policy. Labour income is heavily taxed, while non-labour income and property ownership are hardly taxed at all. ... The legal-democratic ideology clearly delimits itself from leftist, rightist and centrist policies. ... From a legal-democraic viewpoint, both the economic equality of socialist systems and the aspirations to inequality of liberal systems are irrelevant. The concept of equality is central, however, when it comes to equality before the law and equal opportunities for all regardless of sex, race or religion. ... In the midst of the global economic crisis the question to be asked is: Why? Any answer must take account of the financial bubble engendered by companies. Writing off capital has opened up huge possibilities for creating value without production. That would not be allowed in a legal-democratic social system." (19/11/2008)

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Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Światopogląd, » Dania, » Cały świat
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Strømberg Hansen

Observing the growing tensions between Hungary and Slovakia, Barbara Kramžar ponders in the daily Delo why nationalism is gaining an increasingly firm foothold in the two countries. "The anger of the Hungarian minority in Slovakia ... is great, but prime minister Fico continues to rule in a coalition with an extreme nationalist. ... Nor is Hungary entirely free of blame. ... Above all the country is sinking into an economic slump to which there is no end in sight. The debts alone wouldn't be so bad. ... But because in Hungary only the debts have been growing for some time now, the country needs some valiant politicians who can work together even in hard times. Instead it has opposition politicians who leave the parliamentary chamber every time the prime minister starts talking. Ferenc Gyurcsany is also partly to blame. ... Lumbered with such politicians, the nation is obviously turning to the extremists who propagate their hate unhindered. ... the Slovak prime minister continues to expect a five-percent growth rate even in the crisis ... But what will become of those for whom things only get harder and who have not yet freed themselves of those social utopias that in Europe can very quickly turn into nationalism? A decade of deprivation was enough to trigger the meteoric rise of Serb nationalism that culminated in the war in Yugoslavia. ... It is to be hoped that democracy in Europe will have less trouble finding a solution." (19/11/2008)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, słoweński)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » Polityka wewnętrzna, » Węgry, » Słowacja
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Barbara Kramzar

The tabloid criticises politicians who continue to avail themselves of privileges and bonuses while many workers are facing unemployment as factories are forced to cut production owing to the economic crisis. "We are a society that lives on extra earnings. This is why we work more than our Western neighbours and why we are worse off than they are now. We often hear these explanations from our politicians. It's a pity they tell us this, but not themselves. As it turns out, in Poland everyone has to drive around in his official limousine. I can understand that the prime minister has an official car and I can also understand that the ministers have one too. But their deputies? In Sweden, where the standard of living is considerably higher than in Poland, politicians use public transport or pay official trips out of their own pockets. ... Here in Poland it's the taxpayers who pay! I expect those who rule the country to be a little more modest. And wouldn't now be a good time to make the break and renounce a few privileges?" (19/11/2008)

» Dalsze informacje (Link zewnętrzny, polski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka wewnętrzna, » Polityka gospodarcza, » Polska
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Anita Sobczak

Against the backdrop of Slovak-Hungarian tensions the left-wing daily Népszabadság points out that economic relations between Slovakia and Hungary are on a good footing. "Since the two countries became members of the European Union their economic ties have improved markedly. In 2007 the volume of trade between the two countries climbed to well over five billion euros. As a buyer of Hungarian exports Slovakia ranks fourth behind the European giants (Germany, France, Russia). But also in terms of Hungary's imports our neighbouring country is behind only nine other really strong economic powers. So it's by no means inconsequential that in these times of looming recession bilateral trade and economic exchange are in full swing. ... No, in terms of trade there's no sign of either Slovak or Hungarian nationalism. It may be that we're not particularly fond of each other's national symbols, but it seems we like each other's money all the more for it." (19/11/2008)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, węgierski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » Handel, » Polityka gospodarcza, » Węgry, » Słowacja
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Endre Aczél

The Romanian head of state Traian Basescu plans to trade in his German Volkswagen Golf for a Dacia produced in Romania and calls on his fellow citizens to buy Romanian products as a means of countering the recession. The daily Cotidianul comments: "Traian Basescu is right. The collateral damage our industry is currently experiencing is not made in Romania, it is being generated by imports. Under such conditions state aid aimed at enabling companies to continue producing is not only sensible but obligatory. ... Another thing that's for sure is that for an undetermined period the model of economic growth based on consumption, debts and imports will no longer function. To minimise the negative impact of the global crisis Romania must reduce its dependence on foreign financing by cutting imports. ... So in the meantime buy as many Romanian products as possible, as Basescu has told us to do. This won't solve the problems, but it will help." (19/11/2008)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, rumuński)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Handel, » Rynek konsumencki, » Polityka gospodarcza, » Rumunia
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Daniel Oanta

The Danish capital is on the verge of introducing road pricing. Copenhagen's Berlingske Tidende newspaper writes that road pricing alone will not improve the climate in the inner city: "The environmental and climate challenges facing us demand a combined strategy. Many people are forced to drive to or through Copenhagen for lack of an acceptable alternative. ... For that reason the rapid transit system must also be upgraded. More lanes are needed for traffic coming from the north, and more parking spaces must be created at railway stations and bus stops. Private and public enterprises must also adapt to allow employees the flexibility to work at home." (19/11/2008)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, duński)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Infrastruktura / Komunikacja, » Dania

The dispute over smoke in Dutch pubs has escalated. An increasing number of smaller pubs are battling for survival and therefore ignoring the smoking ban. Health minister Ab Klink has announced heavy penalties. The national newspaper De Volkskrant calls for a more pragmatic solution: "It is commendable that the government and parliament are not bowing to pressure at the first sign of protest from an interest group. Consistent application of the rules and law enhances the authority and credibility of the state. However, this does not release politicians from the obligation of asking whether the efforts are in proportion to the aspired results. Or to put it differently: What's wrong with following the Spanish example and allowing a pub-owner who is on his own behind the bar to decide for himself whether he allows smoking in his business premises or not?" (19/11/2008)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, niderlandzki)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka wewnętrzna, » Holandia