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Macedonians dressed in traditional uniforms ride horses as they waving flags from the period of Macedonian's uprising against the Ottoman Empire, during the celebration of the national day, Friday, Aug. 2, 2002, at Meckin Kamen near Krusevo, some 80 kms (50 miles) southwest of Macedonian capital Skopje. More than 20,000 people gathered at Meckin Kamen to celebrate the day of uprising against the Ottoman Empire (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Hundreds of farmers blocked the road from Sofia to Petrich and Zlatarevo border checkpoint protesting against the low purchase prices of their products. The road was full of cabbages, tomatoes and water melons. Milk producers, who arrived from Dobrich, Vratsa and Pazardjik spilt milk on the asphalt. An obituary announced the death of the Bulgarian farming. Photo Roumen Zherev
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy conferred with Russia's Ambassador in Sofia Vladimir Titov. Pressphoto BTA Photo: Bistra Boshnakova
PM GEORGIEVSKI'S ADDRESS AT MECKIN KAMEN GATHERING.
MIA
Macedonian Prime Minister Ljupco Georgievski called for national unity in defense from the threats to the country's security, in his address Friday at the central celebration of the National Holiday Ilinden, held in Meckin Kamen locality.
Georgievski congratulated the big religious and national Holiday to the Macedonian citizens, underlining that "Ilinden is a symbol of the Macedonian battles for independence and freedom, "all our hopes, longings, and promises."
"One hundred years ago, a young group of intellectuals tried to gather the people of Macedonia in the organization TMRO, afterwards VMRO, to raise against he powerful Ottoman Empire. The names of Goce Delcev, Nikola Karev, Dame Gruev, Pere Tosev, Pitu Guli, Gjorce Petrov and Jane Sandanski are engraved in our history. They set the fire, which has been warming us all of these years," Georgievski said.
Referring to yesterday's formal session of the parliament regarding the 100th anniversary of the birth of Metodija Antonov - Cento, Georgievski paid tribute to all ASNOM (National Antifascist Liberation Council of Macedonia) supporters and partisans, who fought against fascism in the World War II and brought the country to the first ASNOM session, where a decision for independent Macedonia was reached. He also reminded to the fight for independent Macedonia 11 years ago, which has given us the results we are enjoying today.
"But, we cannot forget to pay tribute to the last year victims, who lost their lives for the freedom of Macedonia exactly in this period. They fought against the army of aggressors and criminals, defending our freedom, Macedonia, the future of our children," Georgievski said.
"We have hoped that the last, most dramatic century is behind us. In the 20th century, we fought against the Ottoman Empire, created the Ilinden, suffered in the Young Turks Revolution, Balkan War I and II, the World War I and II, faced fascism and communism, witnessed the four civil wars in former Yugoslavia, ended by the biggest military operation after the World War II - the NATO air-campaign against our neighbor Yugoslavia. We have hoped that the times of sad songs, curses and lamentation are over, when a non-principle coalition of evil started a new war against us. We finished the century in blood and regretfully enough started the new one with bloody tragedy." Georgievski said.
He considered that all those sufferings brought so many people today at Meckin Kamen, as this place is the symbol of Macedonia's freedom, fight, weaknesses and strength.
"We are here today to drink cold water from the Ilinden and Krusevo source of patriotism, national self-respect, national pride and dignity, as well as to promise and send a message to our enemies that we shall defend Macedonia," Georgievski said.
He paid his tribute to all dead and alive heroes from the last year conflict, because the Macedonian Army, police, reservists and all of those who granted moral support, suffered no less that those fighting in 1903 and 1941-45.
"However, we all wish to pay tribute to those, who fought hundred years ago, which is not the case for the last year defenders. Macedonians are not united in this respect. Therefore, I would like to pay attention to those who were in the front line and survived and are commanders and generals today. It is a shame that some structures undermine their contribution, making a several-week drama by each incident of some drunk "wolf", "tiger". "scorpion" and "lion". It is sad to see how some make stories about those people, presenting them as criminals. But I am not ashamed to call all of you here to pay tribute to them, because we should be grateful to last year dead and alive heroes for today's gathering, Macedonia's freedom and the future of our children," Georgievski said.
"There are many politicians that say nice words and many journalist that write beautiful stories, but only few in the muddy trenches. In the future, they will be referred as new Ilinden followers and fighters for the freedom and survival of Macedonia. Undermining of those people is very hard for me, as it is done by those who want to justify their nihilist policy against their own people and country. It is inexplicable, how today some media demand dismissal, disbanding of units and arrests for those who defended the country, but say nothing about the leaders of terrorist organizations and praise false peace keepers, " Georgievski said.
"This gathering is clear message for our support to those who were in the front lines, as they are the same people, who, if needed, will defend the country tomorrow, after five or ten years," he said.
Two questions remained open after the last year crisis, Geogrievski said.
"The first one is how to define the last year war or the armed conflict in the country. Is it a collateral damage from the NATO campaign in Kosovo, aggression from neighboring Kosovo, the UN aggression (as there is no doubt that we have fought for one year with the Kosovo Protection Corps, which is financed by the United Nations), civil war or attempt for forcible change of the power in Macedonia. Shall we define it as food for the military industry, as common program for NATO survival, or shall we present our feelings- that we were imposed to non-principle coalition between the interest of certain, western military companies and the fight for territories by our neighbors, i.e. the fight for creation of "Great Kosovo", Georgievski said.
In this respect, Georgievski reminded that before the crisis, all international institutions considered Macedonia as an example for interethnic coexistence.
"Who wished to create military crisis a country, which was an example for interethnic coexistence, which realized a GDP of 5,5% in 2000, and was declared as leader of 24 transition countries in regard to its progress in reforms? The question is to remain without an answer at the moment, but I assure you that the time will come when all European and world media will write about the crime, committed once again against the Macedonian nation and state, " Georgievski said.
Whether we have lost or won this war is the second question without an answer.
"Whether we have allowed to the criminal gangs, organized by the Kosovo Protection Corps, to defeat Macedonia, or we have really won this battle? We are not able to give the correct answer today. If we consider those gangs as self-organized, as spontaneous revolution against the Macedonian government, than we may say we have partially lost. But we must also consider what kind of arms we had at the beginning of the crisis, how many rifles, machine guns, snipers, tanks, helicopters and airplanes? In addition, our soldiers and policeman went to fight in snickers and their civil clothes. If we answer to the question who gave the plans to our enemies on deployment and the power of our forces, we shall conclude that we were again imposed to a dirty game of some, we have considered as friends. Did we fight against the criminal gangs, or the KPC? Unfortunately, there are many unanswered questions about mysterious helicopter landings, unnoticed trespassing of KPC brigades, encoded messages and phone conversations between foreigners and the gangs. Here lies the answer to the question: who was our enemy in this crisis, in this war, in which we were saving Macedonia and the freedom of its people.
The history will answer to this question," Georgievski said.
"Despite all sufferings and tragedies, we have managed to equip our army and police as the country deserves. We have done according to our assessments, neglecting the recommendations of some instructors, who still demand disbanding of some army and police units they consider inappropriate.
Unfortunately, except the Ukraine, which granted full support to Macedonia, we had very few friends in that battle. Therefore, on behalf of the people of Macedonia I extend my gratitude to the Ukraine," Georgiecski said.
Addressing to certain structures and to the international community, Georgievski said that th people of Macedonia and the Government had only one road in regard with the foreign policy-Macedonia to become full-fledged member of the Euro-Atlantic institutions and the European Union-as there was no other alternative, Georgievski said.
"For the last few years, we've shown our consensus for the road we have chosen. But, we have to send few messages, which I believe will be understood as well intentioned. It is a fact that during the crisis in Macedonia, the international community did not adhere to principles in regard with the country's defence. It is a fact that certain structures of the international community had not only failed to fight against terrorism as the global evil, but granted non-principle assistance to the terrorism in Macedonia. Many of their activities and statements are still unclear. But the attitude towards the victim-Macedonian and the victim-Albanian was the most painful for me. Their treatment of arrested terrorist and burned ot massacred Macedonian was hurting me most during the crisis. I refuse to believe that it has something to do with national or religious discrimination, even less with some racist or chauvinistic discrimination, but they used, and still use double standards in treating of the victims. I believe that the criticism of the double standards will end here on this Ilinden Holiday, and we shall see an international community that adheres to principles in its relations with the Macedonian people and all of those who live in Macedonia, contributing to the country's and regional stability." Georgievski said.
He called for national unity, saying that such appeal was send to all generations of Macedonians, since the time of Goce Delcev and Nikola Karev until today.
"Let's unite - citizens of Tetovo, Strumica, Skopje, Ohrid, right, left, black, white, green or yellow, or however we Macedonians are divided - when we are in trouble. Last year, we made the first step in the Macedonian history-we established a government of national unity to defend Macedonia. That was the moment of happiness. But we soon realized that the goals to national unity were different, which was the sad moment. Despite the last year bad experience, I wish, today on Ilinden, to reiterate my call for national unity, because I know it is in the heart of each Macedonian. I am sure that the decade before us will reunite Macedonians, whether we like it or not. I am sure that if we as governmental or party institutions agreed on one issue only-how to defend Macedonia-the crisis outcome and the Ohrid Agreement would have been different. We would have a result, which could make us proud. Our differences on the main issue-should we defend Macedonia- have broth us to this, a bit humiliating position today," Georgievski said.
He reminded that ten years ago, the political party VMRO-DPMNE and some people had pointed out that Yugoslavia was falling apart.
"It meant that we should organize and declare an independent Macedonia. But, there were many skeptics. It took us great deal of money and time. Today, I wish to send a clear message: It is rather obvious that the international community and most of its institutions are in favor of independent Kosovo, maybe even for the Graet Kosovo idea. Today, unfortunately, a hypocritical policy is in power-sweet words about the coexistence in Kosovo, Macedonia and Bosnia - ethnical cleansing in reality. It is happening in Bosnia, Serbs are expelled from Kosovo every day, and unfortunately, in some parts of Macedonia, international structures are fostering ethnic cleansing, aimed at creating of ethnically clean territories, " Georgievski said.
Therefore, we should not be politically naïve to believe that certain big structures of the international community did not stand behind ideas for independent Kosovo, ethnically clean territories, and most probably for Great Kosovo or Albania, Georgievski added.
"Therefore, we are ready today to reiterate out call to all political parties in Macedonia, which enjoy the citizens' support, to stop fighting for our party interests, but to stand firmly against the greatest challenge, which obviously arrives. Let's work on a joint concept how to defend ourselves from the great challenge - independent Kosovo and everything that comes with it.
Accordingly, I understand this outstanding gathering of Macedonians as fear, but also as fait in our strong army, police, and above all - wise political leaders, who are aware of the challenges that Macedonia is to face. The last year coalition was not successful, but I am sure that we will know how to unite and fight in an appropriate manner when the crisis will return. This is a call for precaution and concern, but also for Macedonia's freedom, independence and defense against all enemies. Long live the independent and sovereign Macedonia," Georgievski said.
Before his address to great number of citizens, representatives of the Government, the Macedonian Orthodox Church and the diplomatic corps, the Prime Minister laid flowers on the Meckin Kamen monument.
Delegations of Ministries of Interior, Defense, the city of Krusevo, the scientific-cultural meetings "Ten Days of the Krusevo Republic," political parties and many citizen associations also paid their respect by laying flowers
Macedonian Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski, accompanied by Foreign Minister Slobodan Casule and Culture Minister Ganka Samoilovska-Cvetanova, laid flowers Friday morning on the grave of Krusevo Republic President Nikola Karev at the monument "Ilinden," in honor of 99-years of the Ilinden Uprising and the Krusevo Republic.
Delegations of Interior Ministry, the Macedonian Army, the local self-government, led by Krusevo Mayor Vanco Naumovski, the scientific-cultural meetings "Ten Days of the Krusevo Republic," the Association of politically convicted and arrested persons for the ideas of Macedonia's independence, as well as of the political parties VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM, also laid flowers.
The manifestation "Ten Days of the Krusevo Republic" was formally opened Thursday evening on the plateau outside the Ilinden Monument.
Chairman of the manifestation Council Zoran Todorovski declared the manifestation for opened, while Mayor of the Krusevo Municipality Vancu Naumoski welcomed the present guests.
Prime Minister Ljubco Georgeivski, Culture Minister Ganka Samoilova - Cvetanovska and Minister of Transport and Communications Ljupco Balkovski also attended the ceremony.
Actor Tome Vitanov read the "Manifestation Charter" and the "Krusevo Manifest". Afterwards, Vitanov and his colleague Sofia Gogova-Vrcakovska took part in a recital, followed by performances of the Women's Choir "Menada" from Tetovo and the group "Sintesis".
Festive program was organized Thursday morning in Sliva locality, near Krusevo on the occasion of the 99th anniversary since Ilinden Uprising and Krusevo Republic.
Several delegations laid flowers in front of the memorial in Sliva, where fourteen fighters lost their lives while defending the Krusevo Republic.
On behalf of the Council of the scientific-cultural meetings "Ten Days of Krusevo Republic," three-member delegation, led by Council's President Zoran Todorovski, laid flowers.
Flowers were also laid by Krusevo Mayor Vancu Naumoski, the delegation of the District Committee of VMRO-DPMNE, delegation of the Association of citizens prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned about the ideas for independence of the Macedonian antion and its statehood, delegation of the Krusevo Fighters' Association and the delegation of the participants in "Ilinden Horse March."
The students from the State Secondary Schoold "Naum Naumoski - Borce" recited revolutionary poetry afterwards.
Lat night, Prime Minister Georgievski formally opened the renovated sport hall "Voivode Gjorgi Stojanov" with 1,000 seats in Krusevo.
The Macedonian Government, in cooperation with the public company in charge of sport facilities, managed to renovate this hall and put it into effect for a very short time.
"There will be no more ceremonies for cornerstones laying. We shall only mark the completion of projects that may be used by citizens, " Georgievski said.
Earlier, he formally opened the new road between the villages Gradesnica and Staravina.
Regarding the Macedonian National Holiday-August 2, Minister of Culture Ganka Samoilovska - Cvetanova opened Thursday a new summer stage in Krusevo.
At the ceremony, Samoilovska-Cvetanova said that the stage would be used for various cultural events, planned for the manifestation "Ten Days of the Krusevo Republic". An amount of Denar one million was invested in the construction of the stage and auditorium with 450 seats.
Zoran Todorovski, chairman of the manifestation council, said that the summer stage could be used for various musical and drama performances.
Last night, the Agency for Youth and Sport organized a concert with famous musicians.
MACEDONIAN DELEGATION LAID FLOWERS IN FRONT OF MONASTERY "PROHOR PCINSKI"
MIA
Macedonian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Stojan Andov, laid flowers Friday in front of the monastery "Prohor Pcinski in honor of the national holiday Ilinden and 58 years of the first ASNOM session.
Yugoslav delegation, led by the Vice President of Serbian Government and Vice President of Yugoslav Assembly Zarko Korac, also laid flowers.
"We are gathered here to remind ourselves of the great event in the Macedonian history, the first session of ASNOM, which represents a boundary in the battle for the Macedonian people independence," Andov said.
The Macedonian Ilinden was the one that happened in 1903 "when we sent a signal to Europe about the existence of slavery in the Balkans, which was not accepted by the Macedonian people. " Andov said.
"This Ilinden followed the first one, when after a three-year fight against the fascism, we crowned the long-term process by achieving of our goals" Andov underlined.
According to him, Macedonia and Yugoslavia were facing a lot of problems as transition countries. "Mutual understanding will contribute for surpassing of these problems," Andov said.
He stressed that Macedonia surpassed the last year crisis. "We have found the right way to proceed. The reforms are finalized and with their implementation we have made our way to Europe. We are ready to give and receive initiatives for cooperation, friendship and good neighborly relations," Andov said.
Korac said that all Balkan countries invested a lot for their independence and statehood.
"Nowadays we build good neghborly relations in different conditions.
Macedonian and Serbian citizens have a lot in common. The two countries are a model for good neighborly relations in the Balkans," said Korac.
Macedonian Vice Premier Zoran Krstevski and deputies Cedomir Kraljevski and Jordan Boskov also attended the meeting.
The officials discussed on a construction of special ASNOM memorial at the monastery.
"Today we have to lay flowers on improvised monument. Next year the flowers will be laid in different conditions, suitable for such event," Andov said.
The officials also discussed on the cooperation between the two countries and the demarcation of the border.
"The protocol for the demarcation is expected to be signed by the end of August. The obstacles for Bulgaria to sign the protocol are removed and the demarcation may start," Andov stated .
Korac said that Yugoslavia had no dispute regarding the border demarcation.
The only problem that emerged by Bulgaria was surpassed.
The overall situation in both countries was also discussed at the meeting, as well as the Yugoslav expectation for entering the Council of Europe and the start of the negotiations for signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with EU.
"Thus, the number of countries with such agreement will be increased, as well as possibilities for cooperation and stability in the Balkans," Andov concluded.
NUCLEAR PLANT - SAFETY - REVIEW.
BTA
Kozloduy Seeks Update of Nuclear Safety Assessment.
Sofia, August 2 (BTA) - "Bulgaria continues to seek ways to have the safety level of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant reappraised by the Western European Nuclear Regulators' Association. Such an assessment is important because WENRA's members are experts in nuclear safety," Emil Vapirev, Chairman of the Committee on the Use of Atomic Energy for Peaceful Purposes (CUAEPP) told BTA Thursday.
Vapirev and Energy Minister Milko Kovachev were on a delegation which visited France earlier in the week. They conferred with Andre-Claude Lacoste, who chairs WENRA and the French nuclear safety authority.
"The parameters of the Bulgarian nuclear power sector listed in WENRA's 1999 report are rather outdated now," Vapirev said. He noted that the upgrading of Power Units 3 and 4 has already been completed, Bulgaria has a law on safe use of atomic energy, and a new technological description of the Nuclear Plant's safety is available.
Meeting with the Bulgarian officials, Lacoste said that the Nuclear Regulators' Working Group with the European Commission is the authority which can commission WENRA to conduct a nuclear safety review for the countries seeking EU membership. A written request to this end will perhaps be sent to the Working Group, Vapirev said. The idea is that the European Commission be informed about the future update of the WENRA report.
The Bulgarian Government expects a detailed final report on the June mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency by the end of August, Vapirev said.
He hopes that the report will furnish additional ground to seek reappraisal of Kozloduy's safety.
Taking a question on CUAEPP's current status, Vapirev said the national nuclear regulatory authority may be officially transformed next week into a Nuclear Regulation Agency in pursuance of the recently adopted Safe Use of Nuclear Power Act.
U.S. law enforcement officer pleads guilty to abuse of Bulgarian wife.
AP
VISTA, California - A sheriff's deputy whose Bulgarian wife claimed she was kept as a prisoner in their home pleaded guilty to abusing the woman.
Bruce Hewett, 39, faces up to three years in prison when he's sentenced Sept. 3 on a felony charge of making a threat and a misdemeanor count of spousal abuse. He pleaded guilty Friday.
As part of a plea agreement, a judge dismissed charges of rape, assault, false imprisonment and weapons violations.
The 28-year-old woman told authorities that Hewett began abusing her shortly after they married and she came to the United States from Bulgaria. She said he wouldn't allow her to contact her family and prevented her from leaving the house except to work in his parent's house across the street.
The deputy denied the allegations. He filed court papers seeking an annulment of the marriage, claiming he was tricked into marrying the woman so she could immigrate into the United States.
Hewett had been placed on administrative leave by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department pending the outcome of the case.
Government's Crony Gets $ 5,2 m as a Gift.
Standartnews
Georg Tsvetanski is the first blown out fuse from the government's favorite firm, Tobacco Capital, on the move is Prosecutor General.
Bulgaria is shaken by another scandal with the government's favorite - Tobacco Capital Partners. CEO of Balkanpharma Georg Tsvetanski was booted out from the company because of the latest machinations around Bulgartabak. The reason were the facts unearthed by "Standart" about Mr. X., who "forgot" to pay $ 5,2 million in taxes after operations with Balkanpharma shares on the stock exchange of Iceland. As we promised on Tuesday, today we shall name Mr. X - he is Georg Tsvetanski. He is a person from the brain trust of the Tobacco Capital. A man in the shadow who is pulling strings behind the curtain. As it has transpired, Tsvetanski arranged to become a CEO of the tobacco holding after the government dishes it up to Tobacco Capital.
NMS MP Face Charges for Bribery.
Standartnews
Pavlina Zhivkova
Elena Yaneva
Chief of the port lodges complaint to the Interior Ministry claiming that Klara Petkova asked 10,000 levs from him.
The was a turmoil in the parliamentary group of the NMS after the deputies found out from a national weekly that their colleague Klara Petkova was caught red-handed when asking for a graft. According to chief of Oriakhovo port Atanas Stoev, King's deputy demanded 10,000 levs from him and threatened that he would lose his job if the money wasn't paid. He gave her the first portion - 2000 levs, but later complained to the police. Minister of Interior Georgi Petkanov ordered the regional directorate of interior in Montana to check out the complaint, the IM reported. On July 19, at a meeting in the "Valentino" restaurant in Lom Stoev gave to the MP an envelope with 450 marked euros. At the last moment, though, someone warned Petkova by phone and she gave back the money.
NAVAL COOPERATION.
BTA
Varna (on the Black Sea), August 2 (BTA) - The multinational naval on-call peace task force called "The Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group" (Blackseafor) will be activated for the second time from August 5 through 28 in the western part of the Black Sea.
The ceremony of the group's activation and the change of command will take place in Sevastopol, Ukraine, on August 8, said the PR Department of the Bulgarian Naval Staff.
Under the agreement on setting up the task group concluded by the participating countries, during the second activation the group will be under the command of the representative of the Bulgarian Naval Force, Captain Emil Evtimov, who commands the division of patrol boats of the naval base at Varna.
The mine sweeper Shkval of the naval base at Bourgas led by Lieutenant Commander Pavlin Shterev, will take part in the group's activation.
The Blackseafor ships will simulate sea-mines cleaning operations and will improve their joint action. They will call at Istanbul, Constanta and Varna. The three-day call at Varna from August 25 through 27 will end by disbanding the operative group, the Naval Force said in its press release.
M-Tel Sells 3,000 Prima Cards per Day.
Standartnews
Victoria Srephimova
Oscar winner shot the clips of the company.
The sales of pre-paid cards "Prima" by M-Tel increased dramatically after the start of the new advertising campaign of the mobile operator, the CEO said yesterday. More than 3,000 new subscribers are buying pre-paid cards per day, he said further. The CEO elaborated that the company aimed to give people the chance to get familiarized with the opportunities of the services. This is why a special two-minute clip was shot and is now broadcast on the TV. An international team worked out the entire advertising campaign with cameraman Robby Muller who won an Oscar for "Paris, Texas" by Vim Vanders. At present, the network of the M-Tel covers 90 percent of the population.
Rediscovering the West.
Project Syndicate and Institute for Human Sciences - Standartnews
by Ralf Dahrendorf*
Transatlantic disputes are multiplying at the very moment that Europe's Constitutional Convention begins to debate a joint EU foreign policy. Ralf Dahrendorf thinks that both sides of the Atlantic need to look beyond the trivial and rediscover the common interests and values of the West.
Hardly a week goes by without some addition to the already long list of European-American gripes and irritants. One week it is the UN Security Council vote about a continued US presence in the Bosnia peacekeeping mission. Before that the setting up of the International Criminal Court without American participation set both sides on edge, and the question of whether the Palestinians should be told whom not to elect as their leader. Israel and the Palestinians remain a subject of profound Europe-US disagreements, as are issues surrounding the environment and the idea of sustainable development.
Add to these US trade sanctions, America's latest Farm Bill, and of course the whole question of alleged or real US unilateralism.
Fortunately, such spats are not the whole truth. American unilateralism is in fact a form of "multilateralism A la carte". Where it suits American interests, international institutions are happily used, and they usually serve European interests. Also one must never forget that we are talking about democracies. In the US, as in Europe, there are many different views about Bosnia, about Arafat, even about protecting farmers. After all, not every American voted for President Bush, nor is every European a Eurofederalist.
Still, when representatives of the US and the EU meet for formal consultations, they arrive at the table with different perceptions. US participants represent a country at war in which energies are concentrated on defeating the enemy, "terrorism," whether of the Al Queda or Iraqi variety.
EU participants on the other hand represent ... well, what exactly? If the issue is trade, then the answer is clear. In so far as the European Union is a "single market," it is represented by the Trade Commissioner, Pascal Lamy. If the issue is competition, Commissioner Mario Monti represents Europe, stridently so, as Americans have learned to their surprise. But as soon as we move to wider issues of foreign and defense policy, Xavier Solana, the High Representative of the EU Council of Ministers, may be at the telephone number that Henry Kissinger famously could never find in Brussels when he wanted to "speak to Europe" in his day, but Solana is hardly in a position to speak for "Europe" in important matters today.
European attitudes demonstrate the consequences. Americans are right to point out that Europeans spend an undue amount of time consulting among themselves, and then come up with very little. Most of the time, they agree only to try to put the brakes on firm action.
They are reluctant. "Don't go too fast in welcoming Russia to NATO!" "Don't go too far in supporting Israel and neglecting the Palestinians!" "Don't extend the fight against terrorism to the producers of weapons of mass destruction!" What should be done instead? "Political solutions" should be found, which really means that the European method of consensus building without firm action should be applied to the world at large.
Sometimes the two methods - consultation without action in Europe, actions without consultation in the US - can be turned to mutual advantage. If Europeans do not want to go to war, and Americans do not want to get involved in protracted processes of institution building in distant places, an obvious potential for an international division of labor emerges. To some extent it is practiced already both in Afghanistan and in the Balkans.
At other times, a dangerous potential for division arises between Europeans and the US. Quite a few in Europe define the EU as an instrument for holding their own against the United States. They see even the Euro as a weapon against the dollar and rejoice when the Euro is "strong" and the dollar is "weak". The US has found a new "empire of evil" in "terrorist" states and organizations; Europe has found a new adversary who helps it integrate in the United States.
This is a dangerous state of affairs for those on either side of the Atlantic who believe in the values of the enlightenment and in the constitution of liberty. In terms of basic values, there is such a thing as the West. After September 11th, it has become more important than ever. Defending the values of the West against anti-enlightenment forces both within and without may well be the most important task ahead for all who believe in liberty.
It is unfortunate that some in America, and many in Europe, seem to have forgotten, at least temporarily, that this is what our efforts are all about.
Europeans do not want to fight, not even for their basic values, and Americans think they are fighting only as patriots of their great country. Neither vision is good enough. Rediscovering the West and the institutions that go with it, and defending them with whatever it takes, is the primary issue on the agenda of liberty today.
* Ralf Dahrendorf, the author of numerous acclaimed books, is a member of the British House of Lords, a former Rector of the London School of Economics and also a former Warden of St. Anthony's College, Oxford.
Simeon Came to Make His Son Cyril a Capitalist.
INTERVIEW Standartnews: Peter Dimitrov
Milena Nikolova
Bulgartabak is privatized under the same scheme as the resale of United Bank of Bulgaria, says BSP MP Peter Dimitrov.
Peter Vladimirov Dimitrov is an MP of the Coalition "For Bulgaria". He was born in 1949. He is carrying out his third mandate as a representative of the BSP. In the 39th National Assembly he is a member of two commissions that on economic policy and culture and education. Peter Dimitrov graduated in economics.
- Mr. Dimitrov, you maintain that in the deal for Bulgartabak the economic team of the government is openly lobbying for the firm connected with Prince Cyril. Would you give more details?
- It was a common belief in our society that Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha sacrificed himself for the sake of Bulgaria. The explanation is different, though: the ex-King agreed to be a convert republican to help at least one of his heirs to become a capitalist.
- In your estimation, is the price offered for Bulgartabak low and do we have to ask for new, higher bids?
- The fact is that the candidate-buyer (Tobacco Capital Partners - ed.'s note) is not a German bank which allegedly stood behind it. If it were, it could have tabled a billion euro which was asked for the tobacco company of Italy, ETI.
- Do you have any information about the connections of Prince Cyril with Tobacco Capital Partners?
- I'm not an inquiry officer. This is my opinion as a politician. At the moment the entire branch is offered for sale, not a separate business. It is highly probable that it will perish just like the others did. The sad story of Balkan Airways or Varna shipyard may well be repeated. |
