Tajikistan - 'un'steady as she goes

Poverty and corruption are abiding concerns for the people of Tajikistan, Central Asia's poorest state. Now some suggest it's ally, Russia, is prompting it's government to be less authoritarian - perhaps for fear of another 'colour' revolution. The Tajik President shows no sign of taking the hint though and his recent speeches show no changes are planned more from EurasiaNet...

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Turkey - more history lessons

The Turkish Prime Minister has made a new offer on the dispute over the Armenian Genocide. He has proposed a joint commission of historians - from both countries - to publish an agreed narrative. Reaction hasn't been warm. The idea may be to copy the Franco-German history review of 1945/6 or to just put off the whole question while the academics argue. Armenian politicians may suspect the latter as some have called for recognition of the Genocide first more from the Zaman Daily...

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Kosovo - Balkan black hole beckons

A recent study has highlighted the fact that, although out of the news, Kosovo and it's neighbours still have explosive tensions unresolved since the end of the Balkan wars. Many observers have called for a decisive settlement of Kosovo's status since the ethnic riots last year but this latest study goes further in saying the EU must put aside a budget for state building in the region. It also calls for a road map of measures needed to join the EU which should replace the UN's status quo more from the IWPR...

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France - Chirac's hard sell

President Chirac has been making the case for the EU constitution in a TV interview - with hand picked 'youth' interviewers. So no hard questions then, but an interesting sales pitch...the constitution has nothing to do with the services directive, or Turkey's membership, or the governments popularity, or anything interesting in fact. It's just the rules needed for a more organised (and therefore more humane) Europe. Also, if they vote No the French will be odd man out in the EU more from the EU Observer...

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Greece - religious cases

The Greek courts seem to be the place to discuss religious issues these days - if it's not corrupt Bishops it's blaspheming cartoonists Money laundering charges have now been added to the lengthy list of crimes the Bishop of Attica is accussed of more from the Kathimerini Daily... while the Austrian cartoonist has had his 'daft' case dropped ..which should boost sales of his stoner Christ images still more from the Kathimerini Daily...

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France - natives go Native

A new law finally recognizes the rights of those loyalist Algerians who supported France in the war but have felt like second class citizens ever since. There are also some unexpected history lessons involved. One of the new provisions states that school text books must stress the positive aspects of French colonialism. Perhaps the Japanese can offer some advice. For the second, French born, generation it's a bitter legacy that this law will do little to resolve more from the IHT...

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US - whats the ID

The US constitution provides for freedom of religion, and freedom from religion, by separating church and state. So state schools can't provide a religious education of any sort as this is a private matter - by law. This is the basis for the current ban on prayer in schools and teaching creationism instead of evolutionary theory. To get around this 'Intelligent Design' is the new brand. In an attempt to disguise it's religious nature this modern creationism theory is demanding equal time in the classroom as a science subject - some like to point out the contradictions in that approach more from the LA Times...

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Japan - women's work.

Japan's falling birth rate has long been a cause for concern, but the role of modern women is complicated by familiar work-life balance issues. None of the incentives offered by the state seem to be working so how about copying Singapore with a tax rebate for foreign nannies ?. Maybe there are deeper problems to be overcome (like men for example). An interesting comparison in the Japanese media sees one journalist wishing to a child in Japan but a women in Singapore more from the Asahi Shimbun... More serious procreative issues are present though, like getting around to consummating your marriage. Women who have concentrated on their career before marrying are finding their prospects of family life hampered by husbands who prefer work, call-girls or pornography (in that order) to actually having sex with their wives. Creating a sex industry for desperate virgin brides doesn't seem like the answer though more from the Guardian...

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South Korea - text book diplomacy

Showing a much better grasp of how to influence opinion, President Roh of South Korea has used an interview with a German newspaper to comment on Japan's apparent lack of remorse for the last war. By saying Japan's attitude is not consistent with the universal values aspired to by the international community he makes a good job of sounding less like an unreasonable neighbour than the tactless statements that come out of Japans foreign ministry more from the Chosunilbo... He has also pulled no punches in a recent address to his fellow citizens on the issue - but he did at least advise them not to attack Japanese people personally ...which was nice more from Korea Net...

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Kyrgyzstan - a real revolution in the offing

While the political players in Kyrgyzstan compete for central authority - in some form - it's not yet clear if the other characteristics of a real full-tilt bloody revolution are about to occur, i.e. a breakdown of state power and the formation of new political (or economic) ways of doing things. With some seemingly spontaneous land grabbing going on and local government splitting into two factions both seem possible. In Georgia and the Ukraine it was, at most, two out of three. New democratic institutions were set up and a new political class came to power but the state itself still functioned as before - without violent anarchy breaking out; hence the 'velvet' revolution name. In Kyrgyzstan, the state may be too fragile to survive too much reform more from EurasiaNet...

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Turkey - Cyprus deal creeps closer

Turkey has agreed to include Cyprus in the extension of the current customs union to include new members - another hurdle to the start of accession talks in October has been cleared. Both sides are also making positive sounds about a return to UN brokered talks on reunifying the island more from the IHT...

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Bulgaria - visit before it's concreted over

Tourism has been booming in Bulgaria for the last five years but this year saw a drop in visitors bookings of 15% - maybe the unfinished hotels, constant construction and general 1970's Costa Brava retro feel are to blame Some see the complete disregard for planning regulations or environmental laws as killing the golden goose more from the IWPR...

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France - Chirac says say Yes

President Chirac is going to become personally involved in the campaigning for a Yes vote in France's EU referendum. A No vote would be embarrassing as the referendum was his idea. The President could have chosen to approve the treaty by a vote in Parliament, which has a majority in favour, but decided on a popular vote. Having taken the result for granted until recently, this last minute campaign may be too little, too late more from the EU Observer...

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