The daily Dnevnik paints a gloomy picture of the consequences of the conflict in South Ossetia: "If the war in the Caucasus spreads quickly it could swell beyond Georgia's borders, confronting Europe with the worst crisis on its doorstep since the Second World War. In comparison with the Caucasian turmoil the war in Yugoslavia could be relegated to the last pages of the history books. The world has not been this close to a new Cold War since the implosion of the Soviet Union. .. The doubts about Russia's comeback as a world power have now been entirely dispelled. The primordial fear of the Russian bear has gained new force." (11/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Ales Gaube

The Times warns Russia of the consequences of its attack on Georgia: "To launch an assault on Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, was a model case of Talleyrand's dictum: worse than a crime, it was a blunder - and an inexcusable provocation to Moscow. ... Western diplomacy should certainly urge negotiations over the separatist enclaves in Georgia. But there is a danger in merely splitting the difference in this conflict. There should rather be one overriding and consistent message given to Moscow, and that is 'no blood for oil'. ... Georgia reasonably seeks close relations with the West. It also sees the Baltic states as a precedent for other former Soviet republics to seek membership of Nato. The neo-imperialism practised by Moscow is a clear incentive for Georgia to persist with that strategy. Russia cannot be seen as a plausible arbiter of disputes in the region when it fails to acknowledge the legitimate goals of other states. Western governments, like everyone else, do not want conflict in the region. But there are costs to sending out muted or mixed messages. Russia's conduct is unconscionable. It should be warned that it risks international pariah status unless it withdraws." (11/08/2008)

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The Gazeta Wyborcza publishes a joint declaration by the presidents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in which the politicians protest vehemently at Russia's actions in Caucasus. "We, the leaders of the formerly enslaved nations of Eastern Europe, now members of the European Union and Nato - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland - express our extreme concern about the Russian Federation's behaviour towards Georgia. ... In response to the unilateral military activities of the Russian forces we will use all means available to us as presidents to ensure that this act of aggression against a small state in Europe is not concealed or dismissed with meaningless statements that put the victims on an equal footing with the perpetrators. ... The EU and Nato must take the initiative and oppose the spread of imperialist and revisionist policies in Eastern Europe." (11/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Lech Kaczyński, » Toomas Hendrik Ilves, » Valdis Zatlers, » Valdas Adamkus

The conservative newspaper Magyar Nemzet lays the blame for the escalation of the conflict in South Ossetia squarely on the shoulders of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili: "Mikheil Saakashvili is in difficulties. ... Although he dominates the world's press with his rhetoric, at times proclaiming victory, at times ranting about Russian aggression or democracy and Western values (after crushing demonstrations, committing electoral fraud and reducing the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali to rubble), and despite the tailwind from the West, one thing is nevertheless clear: The Georgian president has grossly miscalculated. ... Saakashvili and Georgia may have started the biggest international conflict in recent years. ... The Georgian president has confused his desires with reality, and blatantly misjudged the situation. ... He did not seriously reckon with retaliation by Moscow, for example. Either that or he simply planned to blame Russia. ... In any event, Saakashvili has clearly shot an own goal." (11/08/2008)

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Le Figaro newspaper sees the EU - and especially the French EU Council presidency - as key mediators in South Ossetia: "The diplomatic phase now starting in South Ossetia will be more complicated than the current military conflict. It is not just the fate of a separatist Georgian province, and soon that of a second, Abkhazia, that lie in the balance. At stake here are relations between Russia and the West. ... As Europe's leader, France is decisively positioned to mediate between East and West. ... The EU is the main player between the United States and Russia. In continuing the German initiative on Abkhazia, European diplomacy must maintain peace on our continent by engaging in mediation with Moscow. This is a major responsibility for the French presidency." (11/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Pierre Rousselin

In its leader the daily Diário de Notícias comments on the influence of international politics on the Olympic Games: "The Beijing Olympic Games will probably be the most politicised yet. Not for the reasons one would expect: China's confrontation with the US, human rights and censorship. At least two incidents have had an impact on the games: ... The Iranian Mohammad Alirezaei withdrew from the 100-metre breaststroke competition. The official explanation was that he fell ill, but there are reports that he pulled out because the Israeli swimmer Tom Beeri was competing in the event. ... Air pistol shooters Natalia Paderina (Russia) and Nino Salukvadze (Georgia) hugged each other on the winners' rostrum. There would be nothing unusual about this were it not that their countries are at war. ... The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already said that it will look into the reasons why the Iranian swimmer withdrew. As far as the two air pistol shooters are concerned, however, it can be proud. Such conduct gives the Olympic Games their athletic and peace-making force." (11/08/2008)

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On October 1 Germany will relinquish its leadership of the EU police mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL). The daily Süddeutsche Zeitung reviews the West's efforts to establish an Afghan police force. "Without a functioning police force Afghanistan will never be in a position to guarantee its own security. All experts agree on this. But precisely this is the goal of the West's expensive and increasingly fruitless operation: to be able to withdraw at some point without leaving the country on the Hindu Kush to become a base camp for terrorists once more. In this respect the West's efforts have been pitiful so far. ... There are conflicting concepts: the Germans envision a civil law enforcement agency while the Americans prefer the idea of a paramilitary troop. Big words are followed by small deeds. ... Yet time is running out for the West. There are growing signs that the Afghans are losing their confidence in the promises of the alliance." (11/08/2008)

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Five days after the military putsch in Mauritania General Ould Abdel Aziz explained in an interview with the daily Libération the reasons for the coup: "We did not carry out a putsch! We simply reacted to a situation the Mauritanians did not want. Besides, one can see that the president has lost his supporters in the past few weeks. And as far as the reaction of the international community is concerned, it is quite normal. We have very good relations with these states. In the coming days and weeks they will calm down. ... The president almost destroyed his country's military and security system. We tried to bring him to his senses. ... But he did not want to listen. ... We will organise a vote of confidence among the political actors of all the different parties. We want to signalise good management in the economic sector and root out corruption." (11/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Manon Rivière

The former Czech Prime Minister Miloš Zeman has come out of early retirement from politics to make a new bid for the office of president in Prague. In the midst of the dead season the country's media is dedicating plenty of space to him on an almost daily basis. Journalist Karel Hvížďala criticises both parties: Zeman and the media. "Even during the pickled cucumber season Zeman is receiving an incredible amount of coverage. Zeman has gone down in our history books as an irresponsible, uncouth politician who contributed to the destruction of our country. He called the Austrians idiots and told the Sudeten Germans they should count themselves lucky they were not all killed after the war. ... The media should know that Zeman has no chance of winning. They are not analysing but simply playing into the hands of a lobby. And yet it would be so easy for them to expose Zeman for what he is." (11/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Karel Hvížďala

In an article entitled "Catastrophe Capitalism", author and globalisation critic Naomi Klein reflects in La Vanguardia on current developments in the global economy, touching among other issues on the Iraq War: "Some of the architects of the Iraq War do not even deny that the prime motivation for the invasion was oil. Fadhil Chalabi, one of the key advisors to the Bush government in the months before the war, recently said that the invasion was 'a strategic action taken by the USA and the UK in the Persian Gulf to  secure oil supplies'. Occupying another state to use its natural resources violates the Geneva Convention. That means that rebuilding the infrastructure in Iraq - including the oil infrastructure - is the task of the invaders. They must pay reparations. (Let us not forget that Saddam Hussein's regime had to pay Kuwait 9 billion dollars in reparations after the 1990 invasion.) Instead, Iraq is being forced to sell 75 percent of its natural resources to pay for an illegal invasion and occupation." (11/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Naomi Klein

In the news magazine Revista 22 British historian Tom Gallagher casts a critical glance at relations between the Romanian state and the EU. "A serious alarm signal ... was the success of Bucharest's [political] elite in establishing an influential lobby for Romania within the complex multidimensional institutions that govern the EU. Bucharest went about this cleverly by offering infrastructure projects to both economic players that have clout in Brussels and those parties that dominate some of the Union's core states. Thanks to this lobby Romania, which was on a long list [of candidates still waiting for membership], was able to join [the EU]. ... The EU Commission's report of 24 July reveals ... a judicial system that is largely under the control of corrupt forces. In this context it has become clear that the EU lacks the political will to impose sanctions on Romania. The social democrats and the liberals in the European Parliament have drawn ever closer to the power and interest groups that rule Romania behind the scenes. This reality makes the idea that the European Parliament, which is governed by reciprocal interests, will ever be capable of representing the interests of the average European citizen appear unlikely." (11/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Tom Gallagher

American intellectual Naomi Wolf writes in Dagens Nyheter newspaper about the many images and reports of torture and war crimes commited by Americans, which most of her countrymen disavow. Openly doubting her feelings of patriotism, she cries out to the world: please, stop us! "Americans worry about their weight and then go shopping," she writes. "We have become a lawless nation, a threat to international law and stability in the civilised countries that were once our allies. For good reason we figure on Canada's list of brutal countries that use torture. ... We Americans are not able to help ourselves. Like drug addicts or mental patients who refuse treatment, we depend on our friends to act. Remember that we have seen better times. Take steps to save us and the world from ourselves. Perhaps then I will be able to love my country once more." (11/08/2008)

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Les Echos newspaper analyses the phenomenon of "stagflation" now being felt in Europe. "Symptoms have redoubled in recent weeks. Now there can be no doubt: Europe is suffering from stagflation. The first hit were the UK and Italy. With the exception of Berlin, all of the capitals are now preparing to admit their mistakes. A year after the dream that the 'subprime crisis' would be limited to the American real estate market, ... the reality is now emerging. ... Certainly one should not overdramatise and say that recession is unavoidable. ... Nevertheless the lull in combat over euro-dollar parity and raw materials must continue. The times are uncertain, and the smallest spark could set all the powder kegs on fire. The confrontation between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia is the most ominous warning - right before Europe's doors." (11/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Françoise Crouïgneau

The Spanish daily El Mundo reports that the German chamber of commerce has spoken out in Spain against the language policy of the autonomous region of the Balearic Islands. In the future, companies operating there are to be allowed to serve their customers in Catalan. El Mundo agrees with the chamber of commerce and criticises the regional language policy: "It is no longer a matter of assessing the substantial damage caused by the fact that in schools, the health system and in the administrative authorities of the regions of the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, the Basque country and Galicia, Spanish is no longer spoken, we need to look at the impact of this language policy ... on the national economy. The nationalist [regional] governments have transformed positive discrimination [in favour of the regional languages] into an instrument of language control that is unacceptable and goes against the common good - above all in an economic crisis like the present one." (11/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Education, » Social movements, » Economic Policy, » Germany, » Spain

Until recently parents in Greece who did not want their children to take part in school religion classes had to justify their request with proof that they had other religious convictions or did not believe in the Christian faith. Now pressure by the EU has put a stop to this practice. The daily To Vima takes the occasion to assess religious teaching in Greece. "The major problem lies in the mentality of Greek teachers and ... all those who believe that religious teaching should take the form of indoctrination and not - as is fitting - instruction on the history of religions. ... Clearly, religion is highly influential nowadays. ... One [only] need think of the bloody conflicts between Islamists and those professing a different faith. ... All of that remains incomprehensible without an understanding of the religions' doctrinal differences and global objectives." (10/08/2008)

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