> > Le Monde diplomatique > ----------------------------------------------------- > > > February 2000 > > >LEADER > >Chechnya in chaos * > >by IGNACIO RAMONET > > <http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/02/01ramonet> > > Translated by Ed Emery > > >AOL-TIME WARNER MERGER > >Internet feeding frenzy > >by DAN SCHILLER > > Hype about the wonders of the "new economy" is flooding Europe from > the United States. This is supposed to break down social barriers > and change the status quo. Yet inequality is greater than ever. It > is the rich that are mainly profiting from expansion and the most > powerful economic groups that dominate. The AOL-Time Warner merger > is confirmation of this trend, aiming to turn the web into a giant > virtual supermarket in an endless pursuit of customers. The deal > threatens to erode the internet and, with it, the multiplicity and > independence of information sources. > > Original text in English > >Poacher turned gamekeeper > >by IBRAHIM WARDE > > Translated by Harry Forster > >The cyberdamned * > >by SERGE HALIMI > > <http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/02/04halimi> > > Translated by Harry Forster > > >MILOSEVIC STILL IN THE SADDLE > >West thwarts Serbian opposition * > >by CATHERINE SAMARY > > On 10 January the main Serbian opposition groups reached an > agreement to hold joint demonstrations, starting in March, in > favour of an early general election. In the event of victory, they > intend to form a coalition government committed to mending fences > with the West, ensuring equality between Serbia and Montenegro in > the Yugoslav Federation, restoring the rights of the national > communities and implementing the reforms required by the Balkan > stability pact. In Kosovo, the opposition's declared aim is ethnic > reconciliation, but it is demanding the return of the Yugoslav army > to the province. Nato's war has provoked a widespread "Iraqi > syndrome" in Serbia and it is by no means certain that the > opposition's new-found unity will suffice to topple Slobodan > Milosevic. > > <http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/02/05samary> > > Translated by Barry Smerin > >The real agenda for Kosovo > >C. S. > > Appendix B to the Rambouillet agreement has been much debated. It > gave Nato forces an unrestricted right of passage throughout the > territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Yet this was not > the clause Belgrade cited to justify its rejection of the > agreement. How come? > > Translated by Barry Smerin > > >ROYAL ACTIVISM, IMMOBILE GOVERNMENT > >Is Morocco really changing? > >by ZAKYA DAOUD and KADER ABDERRAHIM > > Doubts are beginning to be voiced about the changes that have > occurred in Morocco since the death of King Hassan II last July. > His successor, Mohammed VI, continues to stress his desire for > change and has initiated numerous reforms. But he has retained and > consolidated the crown's decisive role in management of the > country's affairs. In a constitutional monarchy this role should > belong to the government, currently led by the socialist > Abderrahmane Youssoufi. The situation is attracting more and more > criticism. > > Translated by Harry Forster > > >WATER DISPUTES UNDERMINE PEACE TALKS > >Drought in the Middle East > >by CHRISTIAN CHESNOT > > Negotiations between Israel and Syria have hit their first crisis. > Meanwhile, the Palestinians and Israelis continue to discuss > matters outstanding from the interim period (redeployment of > occupying forces, a second route between the Gaza Strip and the > West Bank, release of prisoners, etc.), with a view to reaching a > final settlement. The aim is to have a peace agreement in place by > 13 September. But there are still many obstacles to be overcome, > notably the frequently underestimated factor of water. > > Translated by Barbara Wilson > > >A COMMUNITY IN SEARCH OF ITS IDENTITY > >Timid revival of Polish Jewry > >by CÉCILE LIÈGE > > According to popular belief Poland is an antisemitic country purged > of Jews. The truth is not so simple. Racism is declining and many > Polish Jews are openly reasserting their identity. After the > holocaust and the antisemitic campaigns of the communist regime, > the revival of Judaism is mainly taking a religious form. But some > Jews are looking for a more secular identity. > > Translated by Barry Smerin > > >A PARADOXICAL ALLIANCE > >Thailand taps Burma's rivers > >by ANDRÉ and LOUIS BOUCAUD > > The peaceful issue of the hostage crisis at the Burmese embassy in > Bangkok on 2 October outraged the junta in Rangoon, but three > months later the land border with Thailand reopened. Its closure, > which paralysed part of the Burmese economy, was a further example > of the stormy relations between the two neighbours, caught up in > increasingly close ties but conflicting economic interests. > > Translated by Harry Forster > > >PRIVATISATION BECOMES PILLAGE > >Fishing for gold in Colombia * > >by MAURICE LEMOINE > > Latin America is rich in examples of corruption associated with the > privatisation of the more promising state-run industries. In > Colombia it has led, with the active connivance of the politicians, > to the biggest white-collar hold-up in the country's history. This > has not prevented the International Monetary Fund, called in by > Bogota, from dictating a fresh round of restructuring - to be paid > for by the people - and recommending further privatisations. > > <http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/2000/02/11lemoine> > > Translated by Derry Cook-Radmore > > >DEMOCRACY IN A STRAITJACKET > >American constitution above debate > >by DANIEL LAZARE > > In a few weeks the US primaries will have eliminated most of the > presidential hopefuls. But money and fame count more than > statements of policy. The economy is experiencing the longest > period of growth in its history - at the price of an equally > historic trade deficit. Yet the basic problems (political > corruption, record number of prison sentences and executions, > deepening of inequality) are absent from the debate. The > constitution, seen as sacred and unchangeable, contributes to the > general apathy. > > Original text in English > > >OIL SLICKS AND DIVIDENDS > >The maritime free-for-all > >by LAURENT CARROUÉ > > The wreck of the oil tanker Erika on 12 December 1999 was not an > unfortunate accident. It was entirely to be expected given the > ship's age and state of disrepair. The mad scramble for profits and > the irresponsibility of world shipping, hiding behind flags of > convenience, has created a realm of regulatory, technical and > social lawlessness. The abdication of responsibility by the > authorities, in particular the EU institutions and member states, > is having an intolerable impact on safety and the environment. > > Translated by Malcolm Greenwood > > >ASIA IN TRANSITION > >Party versus state in Vietnam > >by PHILIPPE PAPIN > > While Vietnam has not lost the peace, it has not won it either. The > economic change of direction which began to take shape in 1979 and > went full throttle in 1986 has not brought any major disruption to > production or to the country's political life. It has enabled it to > achieve self-sufficiency in food and, since 1989, to redirect its > trade flows for greater regional integration. But these relative > economic successes have not been matched by political > liberalisation, neither have they avoided the development of new > social inequalities. Like China, Vietnam must now confront the > question of government stability in the face of severe criticism > from the Communist Party. > > Translated by Malcolm Greenwood > >A new kind of capitalism > >by MICHEL HERLAND > > Translated by Julie Stoker > > >END OF THE ROAD FOR PHOTOJOURNALISM? > >The tarnished image > >by EDGAR ROSKIS > > There is a serious crisis for photojournalism: the snapshot is in > its death throes, a victim of manipulation by computer technology. > It is in danger of disappearing altogether in the flood of images > now threatening to engulf us. > > Translated by Barry Smerin > > > > English language editorial director: Wendy Kristianasen > > _________________________________________________________________ > > (*) Star-marked articles are available to every reader. Other > articles are available to paid subscribers only. > > Yearly subscription fee: 24 US $ (Institutions 48 US $). > > > > ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Le Monde diplomatique > ______________________________________________________________ > > For more information on our English edition, please visit > > http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/en/ > > To subscribe to our free "dispatch" mailing-list, send an > (empty) e-mail to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To unsubscribe from this list, send an (empty) e-mail to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
