European press review
In Mondays' round-up, the papers look at the
reopening of an emblematic bridge in Bosnia-Hercegovina and in the Czech
republic, the likely new premier comes under the spotlight.
Elsewhere, Russian xenophobia and an anti-GM
protest in France arouse comment, while a Swiss paper warns of prison
overcrowding.
Finally, an American cycling hero fails to win
European hearts.
Bridging the gap
After Friday's reopening of the historic bridge
of Mostar - blown up in fighting between Muslims and Croats during the Bosnian
war in 1993 - European papers assess the significance of the
ceremony.
"The town is slowly returning to its daily
routines" a reporter writes from Mostar in the Saturday edition of Bosnia's
Dnevni Avaz.
"Mostar was full of love, the streets had a
special smell - they say it is the smell of the good will of the Old Bridge and
that it is a sign that the bridge has returned to
life."
Either Gross will learn to face the opposing currents or he will drown
Either Gross will learn to face the opposing currents or he will drown
Lidove Noviny
Dnevni List reminds its readers that "the Old
Bridge for centuries used to link the banks of the Neretva river and the people,
regardless of their name, religion or ethnicity."
"The new Old Bridge is a sign of the rebirth of
the old new Mostar, just like the one in the hearts of all citizens of Mostar,"
it adds.
The Madrid daily El Pais on Monday points out
that although the bridge once again links Muslims and Croats, it does not
reunite them.
"The rebuilt Mostar bridge reminds us that the
arduous road towards reconciliation has only just begun in former
Yugoslavia."
Gross interest
Some Czech papers cast an eye over acting Social
Democrat leader Stanislav Gross, ahead of his Monday meeting with President
Vaclav Klaus when he is likely to be appointed as the new prime minister.
Lidove Noviny is unexcited at the
prospect.
"Gross's advance to the post of prime minister
has not caused any major opposition, but also no major enthusiasm," it says.
"Gross probably does not want to enter the
troubled waters. However, the logic of the party and government crisis, to which
he had significantly contributed, left him no choice but to jump into
them."
If everything continues as before, like Hitler in the 1930s, his admirers may come to power in Russia at the next elections through completely democratic channels
If everything continues as before, like Hitler in the 1930s, his admirers may come to power in Russia at the next elections through completely democratic channels
Novaya Gazeta
"Either Gross will learn to face the opposing
currents or he will drown. He can be absolutely sure that the populist bubble
will not last for long."
Mlada Fronta Dnes also predicts a gloomy future
for Gross.
"It was sensible of the Social Democrats to put
him in charge of the party at the time of their rift. After they recover and
create a programme and spawn real leaders, they will jettison the talented
boy."
Russian far-right?
The Russian weekly Novaya Gazeta is alarmed at
the rise of attacks in the country prompted by nationalism.
"Nationalist and Nazi propaganda is being
circulated in Russia without hindrance."
"Excesses based on nationality are taking on the
form of blatant terror. A Caucasian or Asian appearance has become a risk factor
on our streets."
Geneva has already exceeded crisis point
Geneva has already exceeded crisis point
Le Temps
The paper blames the mass media and "difficult"
social conditions for fuelling the phenomena and worries where it may
end.
"If everything continues as before, like Hitler
in the 1930s, his admirers may come to power in Russia at the next elections
through completely democratic channels."
Moral maize
The Paris daily Le Monde highlights the action
taken on Sunday by anti-GM protesters who uprooted all the genetically-modified
maize plants on a test site in southern France.
The paper cites a warning by anti-globalization
leader Jose Bove, one of the protest's leaders, that more GMO test fields will
be destroyed in the coming weeks.
Another Paris daily, Le Figaro, points to a
report by the French Health and Food Safety Board made public on Friday.
"It highlights, albeit cautiously, the fact that
certain GMOs could be beneficial to health, reducing the use of pesticides...
and possessing improved nutritional qualities."
"Is this mere coincidence?" it asks, observing
that the report's publication on the Internet came at almost the exact moment
when the protesters were destroying a hectare of GM maize.
Swiss guards
The Swiss daily Le Temps voices concern about the
explosion in the prison population.
The American from US Postal has become a legend of the Tour
The American from US Postal has become a legend of the Tour
Le Figaro
"Geneva has already exceeded crisis point," the
paper says, wondering if the zero tolerance policy is to blame.
"The uncompromising war on local petty crime...
no longer accommodates such arrangements".
Geneva's Champ-Dollon prison, designed for 270
prisoners, now holds more than 400, a situation it says which is seen as
potentially explosive.
Terminatour VI
Several European front pages feature cyclist
Lance Armstrong following his record sixth Tour de France victory for his team,
US Postal.
"After three weeks of a supremacy that was never
disputed... the American from US Postal has become a legend of the Tour," the
Paris daily Le Figaro declares.
"Six times great," the Madrid daily El Pais
pronounces under a photo of Mr Armstrong holding up as many fingers as his Tour
wins.
But an editorial in the paper is critical of the
Armstrong phenomenon.
"The triumph of Terminatour comes... as questions
are asked in various quarters if he won these six Tours cleanly or with the help
of stimulants," it says, although it stresses he has never tested
positive.
Mr Armstrong stands accused of "being arrogant,
cold, machine-like," the paper says, recalling the boos and insults to which he
was subjected on this year's Pyrenean and Alpine legs of the Tour.
"But it would be unfair not to recognize his
extraordinary quality and command, which from now on make him a sporting
legend."
Switzerland's La Tribune De Geneve sees Mr
Armstrong's behaviour as haughty, contrasting European cycling's camaraderie
with what it describes as "a typically American business that scorns
humanity".
"Mankind is not fond of those who gorge
themselves on success without suffering and without showing compassion for their
fellows."
The European press review is compiled by BBC
Monitoring from internet editions of the main European newspapers and some early
printed editions.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/click/rss/0.91/public/-/2/hi/europe/3925423.stm
A Bosnian bridge, a Czech politician, Russian worries and GM crops are amongst Monday's topics
