Brief items for which space was lacking in earlier editions
*** EMU/Denmark: In its quarterly report on the state of the country's economy, the Danish Foreign ministry states that, if the outcome of the referendum of 28 September on Denmark's accession to the euro is negative, the kroner will feel the pressure and the government may be led to tighten its budgetary policy. On the other hand, said the Minister of the Economy, Marianne Jelved, a "yes vote" in the referendum would allow it to pursue the economic policy that has secured "such good results" over the past few years.
*** EU/Poland/Spain: On a visit to Poland last week, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar compared the EU's enlargement process to a marriage, telling the press that both parties had to prepare themselves carefully, so as to avoid "long drawn-out engagements".
*** EU/Poland: At the end of her visit to the camp of Auschwitz, on the occasion of her trip last week to Poland, European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine said that "this visit confirmed my conviction that the duty to remember the victims of nazi barbarism was essential, as the last witnesses die and that old demons are re-emerging". In addition, Mrs. Fontaine hoped that the local authorities would review their decision to open a discotheque in the immediate proximity of the camp. This project "seems to me personally to be inappropriate", she said, adding: "I have reason to believe that the chief of police is not in favour".
*** France/NGOs: On the occasion of a meeting of French ambassadors in Paris last week, President Chirac said in particular that France would be prepared to host a "world gathering of the civil society", so as better to involve NGOs in negotiations conducted within international bodies. These negotiations "must not remain the privilege of experts", he said.
*** Balkans: Officials from Greece, Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Fyrom), meeting in the region of Prespes (the lake region covering the three countries) decided to hold a yearly "Prespes Forum", bringing together ministers from these countries. The decision was taken by Greek Interior Minister (and former European Commissioner) Vasso Papandreou, Albanian Labour Minister Makbule Ceco and the Macedonian Minister for Public Order, Dosta Dimovska.
*** Serbia/NATO: Serbia's prosecutor announced that he had indicted fourteen leaders "of the large powers for having influenced the other NATO countries" during the Spring 1999 air campaign against Serbia, and announced that these Western leaders would be judged in abstentia. On this list we find former NATO Secretary General Mr. Solana and the former Supreme Commander Allied Forces Europe, General Clark, as well as the American and French Presidents, the British Prime Minister, the German Chancellor, and the Defence and Foreign Ministers of the four countries.
*** Kosovo/IGC: In a report entitled Kosovo Report Card, the International Crisis Group (ICG) analyses the successes and failures of the international community in Kosovo. On the positive side, the ICG notes in particular the disarmament of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), the creation of the framework of a new administrative structure and humanitarian assistance for refuges. On the negative side, they point out that "neither NATO nor the UN were prepared to deal effectively with violence against Kosovo's Serb population", that the underground activities of illegal Albanian armed groups have also defied the international mission's policing capacity, and that the latter is still not capable of tackling the problem of Kosovo's final status.
*** Cyprus: Some twenty representatives of Greek and Turkish Cypriot business circles met the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Denktash last week says the Greek press agency ANA, also reporting that the Cypriot Foreign Minister, Mr. Kassoulides had reacted, recalling that the Nicosia Government "has given its consent and expressed moral support to these efforts by the 'Brussels Group', which is an independent team" which neither drafts nor implements official policy.
*** WTO/Canada/Brazil: The World Trade Organisation has allowed Canada to slap sanctions against Brazil for having subsidised its aeronautical industry. The Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier had accused the Brazilian Embraer, before the WTO of unfair competition. The Organisation considered that an "appropriate counter-measure" would consist in a four-year suspension of the Canada/Brazil tariff agreement, which generates trade to a value of Canadian $344.2 million a year.
*** Italy/Constitution/Germany: In a commentary entitled "Germany's example to follow immediately", published in the Corriera della Serra on 29 August, Tommaso Padoa-Scioppa member of the ECB Council, said that Italy "still has time within this legislature" to introduce in its constitution a provision similar to that according to which, in Germany, the Bundestag may only censure the Federal Chancellor only if it is in a position to elect his or her successor through a majority. Thus, Italy would eradicate the major "ill" that is the discontinuity of the government", he writes.