The fear of the new strain of poultry fever is increasingly occupying space in the main European dailies. The fear of an epidemic, which has already caused victims in Asia, is spreading. In an editorial with the title “Men and chickens” published in the French Catholic daily La Croix on 28 January, Bruno Frappat writes: “What is there more worrying today than chicken flu?” asks Frappat who also puts the emphasis on the fact that “the Asian representative of the World Health Organization has not minced words in announcing that an epidemic of chicken flu could kill millions of human beings!”. The editorialist’s doubt is this: “Did he do so to arouse the alarm of the prevention services or because he truly thinks that there really is a risk if we just sit back and do nothing?”. An unexpected aspect of globalization, he continues, “is that of fear and seeing ghosts. There was the tragedy of “mad cow” disease’, of Sars…”. “Poultry fever is not a ghost, however: it is already present in many Asian countries and in China… Modern fears are spreading in the world. What’s new is the immediacy; the fears travel more rapidly than the virus itself. It’s impossible to disentangle the alarmist messages from the well-grounded ones”. As for our rulers, he concludes, “they oscillate between the transparency that propagates fear and the opacity that delays the truth”. The spotlights of the international press are brought to bear on Bosnia by David Herland who writing in the “Herald Tribune” (27/8) notes: “Eight years after the Dayton Accords, with a gross domestic product that has still to recover pre-war levels, and with a stagnant economy, Bosnia still remains divided between three ethnic zones. The young want to emigrate and those already abroad don’t want to return”. In spite of the 10 billion dollars invested by the international community in eight years, “ Bosnia is still not a self-sufficient country”. What’s the future, then? In Herland’s view, “the country could find prosperity and stability in Europe. It is one of the hopes of the people. But it won’t be easy even for the non-Bosnians who live and work here”. Another issue on which many European commentators focus their attention, not without harsh words, is the increase of MEPs’ pay. Konrad Adam writing in Die Welt (27/1) declares: “ A political caste has been created that no longer knows what is meant by ‘right’ and ‘proper'”. And on the refunds of MEPs’ expenses, the weekly Der Spiegel (26/1) is withering: “ The veto of Berlin has blocked the planned increase of the salaries of MEPs, but not their financial self-service at the tax-payers’ expense“. The too high salaries of MEPs are denounced by Eliseo Oliveras in the Spanish paper El Periodico (26/1), explaining that “the proposal of the European Parliament to harmonise salaries above 9,000 euros per month is giving rise to unease among some EU governments”. Oliveras writes that “the figure is considered too high and could cause a negative reaction on the part of citizens who have far lower salaries”. The affirmations of Dick Cheney, vice president of the USA, according to whom “ America wants a Europe that is as strong as possible and that is willing to help” are reported on the front page of the Spanish daily ABC (25/1). Ramiro Villapadierna signs an article in which he comments on Cheney’s appeal to “friends and allies, especially in Europe” to help those countries “that are sacrificing themselves and working for reforms in the Islamic world”. According to Villapadierna, Cheney’s words at Davos “seek a conciliatory tone on his second visit to Europe during his term of office”. Cheney’s visit to Rome is also discussed by Andrea Lavazza in the Italian Catholic daily Avvenire of 27 January. At stake are relations between Europe and the USA, in some sense undermined by the war in Iraq. “Cheney writes Lavazza did not mince words. NATO needs to be reinforced in terms of the fundamentalist multinationals”. A world challenge is posed in the Middle East, where peace “is achievable only if Palestine is able to provide itself with democratic institutions”. This is a position that, in Lavazza’s view “must prompt reflection at the Community level. America in fact will not stop to wait”. The fight against terrorism is commented on by Ramon Perez in ABC (24/1): “ John Ashcroft recognises that the USA cannot defeat terrorism alone”. The terrorist attacks of 11 September are reviewed once again in the pages of El Periodico (24/1), in an article entitled “11 September, paranoia and truth”, according to which “ since 11 September the frontiers of the USA are an area of risk and suspicion for those who want to enter or leave the country and the measures of control are exaggerated”. These measures, notes Monica Terribas, “are creating paranoia and people may either be terrified or they may joke, but the White House does not joke: better throwing a tourist into prison for a few days that give the impression of not acting”. ———————————————————————————————————– Sir Europa (English) N.ro assoluto : 1267 N.ro relativo : 7 Data pubblicazione : 30/01/2004
