Turkey - what genocide ? what border ?

Turkey continues to assert no genocide took place against the Armenians, the border remains closed and there are no diplomatic relations. Armenia still occupies 20% of Azeri territory. Will the lure of EU money thaw relations in the South Caucasus ? Optimists think so - the pull of the EU being stronger than parochial interests. The genocide is not the main issue but it may be a symbolic place to start
more from Zaman Daily News...

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Macedonia - bias at the Hague ?

Recent elections have distracted many Macedonians from noticing the indictment of their ex-Interior Minister by the Hague tribunal (for crimes committed in the war in 2001). However, the fact that no Albanians have been charged looks like an unfair bias to the Macedonians. Some see the timing as unfortunate - so soon after the controversial vote
more from the IWPR...

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EU - at your service

France and Germany aren't keen on the Services Directive but it's part of the Lisbon Process designed to create jobs and make the EU competitive - why would anyone be against that ? The EU is a free market in goods but not in services - so you can buy Spainish bricks but you'll need a British builder to put up a wall with them. The 'country of origin' clause in the new directive allows you to hire a Spainish builder (and architect for that matter) and they'll work here but under Spainish labour regulations. Substitute 'Polish' for Spainish in the above example and you'll see where many think all these new jobs are going to be created - in countries where employers can shirk the social costs many bear in France and Germany.
more from the BBC...

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US - baby boomers pushed aside

An American generation defined by youth is now finding that younger heads are in demand. They'd like to rest on their laurels but retirement is not an option for many. Those born between 1946 and 1965, having held off having a family in favour of furthering their career, have watched their investments head South while College fees pile up - so no heading to Florida just yet...or maybe ever... more from The Seattle Times...

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Japan - new laws but old restrictions

A new Human Rights bill to set up an independant advisory body to check abuses by the immigration and law enforcement officials has been held up in the Japanese Parliament. Some complain it may impede the authorities. Liberal Japanese media sources are campaigning to remove this hold up and allow members of groups traditionally discriminated against to serve as Human Rights Commisioners, advising possible victims of abuse in their own communities more from the Asahi Shimbun...

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China - unhelpful law for arms dealers

China's recent anti-secession law hasn't convinced anyone that conflict with Taiwan is now less likely. In fact it's put a stop to the EU lifting it's arms embargo. Or is it just a convenient excuse ? Some see the hold up as a victory for Bush and the neo-Con agenda - with threats from Congress over a trade war strong-arming the Europeans.
more from the Asia Times...

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Kyrgyzstan - go South

Kyrgyzstan's civil unrest continues as the shadow government bodies in the South show every sign of taking and holding power. It's authoritarian neighbours fear the 'Kyrgyz contagion'. Uzbekistan, Khazakstan and Tajikistan have all sealed their borders but within each 'managed democracy' is looking increasingly unmanageable
more from EurasiaNet...

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Armenia - go West

Armenian troops are in Iraq and are lined up to keep the peace in Kosovo - both actions make entry to NATO, and possibly the EU, easier for this former Russian ally. If only it wasn't for those inconvenient 'unsettled conflicts'. The NATO Secretary General's recent visit has prompted comment in the media about Armenia's possible shift to the West but it also suggests the Caucasus region is becoming a key route for resupplying US forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere (Syria ? Iran ?)
more from EurasiaNet...

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Greece - show me the money

The recent scandals involving the Greek Orthodox Church have caused shock and outrage at the hypocrisy of those involved. They've also prompted the media to start digging deeper into the wordly affairs of the Church. That means lots of awkward questions about - most damagingly - money.
more from the Kathimerini Daily...

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France - will it be the Left that brings out the No vote ?

Two opinion polls in a week show France is likely to vote No in a referendum on the EU Constitution at the end of May. Among Left wing voters a majority say they'll vote No, a surprising result as the Socialist Parties have agreed to push for a Yes. Economic scare stories could be the key as the new EU policy on liberalising the Services sector makes many Socialists fear Right wing economic policies will be forced through by the EU. No-one in France is making much effort to persuade them otherwise, to the annoyance of Brussels.more from the EU Observer...

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US - melting borders

In the impoverished border towns of Southern California it's the spending power of the Mexican neighbours that's keeping the economy afloat. As cross-border trade increases employers are looking to expand - but that may not dent local unemployment as more highly skilled Mexican employees are available, happy to build cross-border lives. Many Americans think of Mexican workers as illegal immigrants doing hard manual labour, rather than accountants and IT workers with work permits, or those working in Mexico but looking to buy a nice secure home in the North (good for shopping and schooling) more from the LA Times...

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Japan - does the Foreign Ministry employ any diplomats ?

Something odd is going on at the Japanese Foreign Ministry, a Japanese media report has quoted one 'senior Foreign Ministry official' as saying "South Koreans get easily excited about something, but easily forget it too." Nice one - wonder what the junior officials are saying. Without knowing the bakground detail it's hard to judge these stories, but the Japanese media seems to be able to regularly report what look like fairly obviously racist slurs coming from their own diplomats and top officials more from Japan Today... Perhaps there's a shortage of spin docters.

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South Korea - cool diplomacy, from frosty to ice age.

The cooling of official relations with Japan is about to increase as South Korea's government aims for an apology and compensation for past colonial atrocities, bypassing the 1965 treaty that normalised relations between the two countries. The press coverage of recent domestic statements from the Japanese Foreign Ministry - saying such a hard line was really only for Korean consumption - hasn't helped matters. The history text book reviews look set to continue to be a litmus test of attitudes more from the Chosunilbo...

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Kyrgyzstan - are two governments better than one ?

The US ambassador to Kyrgyzstan has criticised the recent Parliamentary elections and suggested the President must not try and bend to rules to stay in office when his term expires (October). The opposition parties aren't waiting. There are some reports from the South of the country that they are already forming a kind of shadow government
more from EurasiaNet...

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Turkey - womens rights in the limelight

Recent news footage of women being beaten by riot police at a demonstration about women's rights has not helped Turkey's image abroad, or with it's EU critics. At a grass roots level, however, campaigners and local government (with some EU money) are already making waves. The response can be unexpected though, especially on the issue of headscarves more from the BBC...

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Macedonia - universal, equal and secret (voting that is)

'Ballot stuffing', 'group voting' and 'unauthorised persons', just some of the forbidden practises to look out for in the world of election monitoring. The OSCE gives Macedonia a pass mark. The peaceful nature of the election has been remarked on as a good sign but there is still what the OSCE calls a 'lack of trust'.
more from the OSCE...

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Japan - education on 'Asian neighbours'

Some senior Japanese politicians have caused controversy by voicing criticism of the law which applies to the review of school history textbooks. It states that any new book must respect the spirit of international understanding and cooperation with Japan's Asian neighbours. Last November an education minister said he thought sex slaves and forced labour should be mentioned less often and this seems to be a view that has some continuing support, more from the Asahi Shimbun... This debate is a gift for critics of Japan and the convoluted history of apologies and aid instead of reparations cannot be viewed as a success. Some see recent social and cultural trends as showing an increasing bond forming with countries like Korea, especially among the younger generation, and that now may be the time to lay the past to rest more from the Asia Times...

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China - Human rights on course

The first course on Human rights in China is now being offered at Guangzhou University, taught by Li Buyun, the director of the Research Centre for Human rights. It's looks like becoming a popular course of study. Professor Buyun's aim is to both make people aware of their rights and to act to protect them, more from the People's Daily Online...

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Kyrgyzstan - the trouble with elections

The first round of elections to Kyrgyzstan's Parliament has not met international standards says the OSCE, but half the results have had to go to a second round. If that's election fixing, it's certainly taking an awful lot of effort for not much fixing. There is a view that outsiders are being too harsh in their judgment for political reasons and that, compared to the past state of affairs, the fact that the elections were peaceful and not all the favoured government candidates got in is a huge step forward, especially when the opposition parties are so fragmented and uncoordinated in their campaigns more from the Times of Central Asia... Another interesting prediction is that the President has made such an effort to get his family and close cronies elected that he's forced many of the ruling political class to consider going over to the opposition, so look for a closer contest in the Presidential elections this year more from EurAsianet...

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Azerbaijan - gun law the trigger ?

Having troublesome journalists murdered is a tactic authoritarian regimes have been happy to use in the past, so Azerbaijan's rulers have been rumoured to be involved in the murder of Elmar Husseinov, editor of the opposition Monitor magazine. If it's true, such a move could be short-sighted. With parliamentary elections due this year some are already comparing this, perhaps prematurely, to the murder of a campaigning journalist that was one of the triggers for the Ukrainian velvet revolution.
more from the IWPR...

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Montenegro - breaking up is hard to do

Montenegro's union with Serbia was a convenient post-war arrangement but next year it will require a referendum to preserve it. The ruling party is already suggesting a parting of the ways. If Serbia drags its feet over issues like the Hague tribunal some fear being stuck in the queue for EU entry. However, a vote could trigger division and strife in Montenegro - also guaranteed to slow progress towards the EU. So, cany politicians are asking Serbia for a divorce now - the better to blame the stubborn Serbs for saying no.
more from the IWPR...

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Spain - 53 steps to heaven

Spain's reforming Socialist government continues it's raft of new policies with a list of initiatives to get more women an equal chance of a job. With female unemployment twice the rate for men, and only 2% of top executive posts going to women, there's a lot to do. The 53 measures include more in-office creches, employment schemes and incentives (unknown) to get more women in the boardroom. Spain may be the new Sweden before long.
more from El Pais (via the IHT)...

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US - old age and illness the main killers on Death Row

Opponents of the death penalty in California now skip the moral and ethical objections and go straight to the cost. With the lengthy and expensive judicial procedures required, being executed is not the main cause of death for Death Row inmates. Natural causes are. In trying to build in as many safe-guards as possible to avoid executing the wrong person it can now take many years for a death sentence to be carried out. more from the LA Times...

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Japan - all too predictable 'history issue'

The Japanese government must wonder whether the past will ever go away. South Korea's President Roh Moo Hyun has said recently Japan has failed to settle the history issue and despite being angry over the abduction of it's citizens by the North, it should understand Koreans anger over the colonial past. The Japanese media have featured stories noting that the Foreign Ministry viewed these remarks as for domestic consumption only. That could be wishful thinking. more from the Asahi Shimbun... Still, some politicians have had a go at their own history class suggestions for their neighbor's. more from Japan Today...

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S.Korea - colonial history man touches a raw nerve

Insensitive discussion of Korea's colonial past has cost a South Korean academic his job. Some historical theories about the Japanese occupation are still politically charged today. It seems it's just not currently acceptable to suggest Japanese colonial rule had any benefits at all or that the case for compensation may be weak (the issue of the 'comfort women' forced into brothels by the Japanese). That's not to say that there's any merit in these arguments necessarily, but even to publicly adopt them is to end your career. The academic in question didn't deny the atrocities committed by the Japanese occurred (like say a David Irving type 'denier' would) but was saying it might have been worse, e.g. to be occupied by the Russians could have been more destructive. more from JoongAng Daily...

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Uzbekistan - alien youth or true son of the homeland ?

The Uzbek authorities are worried about the youth of today - just when they thought they had a handle on the Islamist craze now it's wacky Western Democratic ideals, whatever next ?. A crackdown on foreign funded NGO's and restrictions on foreign diplomats would seem to be a way of keeping these corrupting influences at bay but other idea's have been floated, like a Central Asian Union of States. Given that ex-Soviet leaders rule all these states currently that looks like a club for like minded authoritarian rulers but it does show the governing classes are worried more from EurasiaNet... Are their concerns justfiied ? - a recent article in the German press, analysing the change of government in Ukraine, suggests they may not have anything to fear at present, but could have sooner than you might think More from SignandSight (and the Neuen Zürcher Zeitung)...

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Turkey - 'sick man' slur resurfaces in editorials at dawn

A recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece has stirred up some comment in Turkey - no-one likes to be called second rate, and that old 'sick man of Europe' tag was never very popular. Rober L. Pollock pulled no punches in his article of 16th February, accusing the Turkish poltical class of being both hostile and decadent - cosying up to radical Islamist opinion and anti-semitism to vent their hatred of their ally of the past 50 years, the US, more from the Wall Street Journal.. The Turkish press have responded with editorials of their own, but Ekrem Dumanli thinks more maturity and moderation is called for on all sides. His view is that their is a difference between being anti-American and being anti-American policies, and that the WSJ article has deliberatly ignored this in order to sell a few more papers. Are journalists being increasingly irresponsible in commenting on Foreign news in order to shift more copy ?. Perhaps objectivity is a bit old fashioned more from the Zaman Daily News...

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Albania - a fair trial from the OSCE

Your chances of a prompt and fair public trial in Albania might not be as good as in the rest of Europe but the OSCE is on the case. It's not just elections that get monitered it seems as a full report on the legal system is due at the end of the year more from the OSCE...

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