Tuesday marks the 15th anniversary of the "Weimar Triangle," an agreement which aimed to bring Germany, France and Poland closer together. But despite the good intentions, conflicts between these nations still remain. On Aug. 28 1991, the foreign ministers from Germany, France and Poland met for a joint session in the German city of Weimar to strengthen political ties between these countries and promote European integration. To mark the 15th anniversary of that event on Tuesday, former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher and his French and Polish counterparts, Roland Dumas and Krzystof Skubiszewski respectively, will be honored with an award. But as recent events have proven, the "Weimar Triangle" has not developed as well as its founding fathers might have hoped. Strengthening EU ties When Genscher initiated the ''Weimar Triangle" in 1991, he wanted to extend the close partnership between Germany and France to include neighbouring Poland. With the intention to strengthen European unity, it was hoped that a close alliance with Poland would set the precedent to expand the European Union to the eastern nations. What was initially envisaged as an annual meeting of foreign ministers was quickly expanded and today includes a combination of ministers from different departments along with state and government leaders.
On Aug. 28 1991, the foreign ministers from Germany, France and Poland met for a joint session in the German city of Weimar to strengthen political ties between these countries and promote European integration. To mark the 15th anniversary of that event on Tuesday, former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher and his French and Polish counterparts, Roland Dumas and Krzystof Skubiszewski respectively, will be honored with an award.
But as recent events have proven, the "Weimar Triangle" has not developed as well as its founding fathers might have hoped.
Strengthening EU ties
When Genscher initiated the ''Weimar Triangle" in 1991, he wanted to extend the close partnership between Germany and France to include neighbouring Poland. With the intention to strengthen European unity, it was hoped that a close alliance with Poland would set the precedent to expand the European Union to the eastern nations.
What was initially envisaged as an annual meeting of foreign ministers was quickly expanded and today includes a combination of ministers from different departments along with state and government leaders.
In early August, when Israel expanded its ground offensive in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, several Israeli military intelligence analysts warned that the Shi'ite militia had some of the most advanced anti-tank technology in the world. Immediately, Israeli and international media released articles that pointed the finger at Russia as the main supplier of such sophisticated military equipment, although Moscow - most of experts maintained - provided the weaponry to Syria and Iran, which subsequently smuggled it to Hezbollah. .... Promptly, a spokesperson for Moscow's Foreign Ministry said Russia honored its international obligations and had not been supplying modern anti-tank weapons to Hezbollah, a response that few in Israel consider convincing. While Israel reflects on the tactical troubles encountered in the 32 days of conflict, two main political and strategic questions deserve to be addressed. The first, of course, is that of Russian military supplies and diplomatic support to Middle Eastern state and non-state actors (Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas) that Washington considers the worst enemies to its proposed "New Middle East" project and to Israel's security. The second question, however, is that of Russia's grand strategy. Failing to understand the broader picture prevents observers from correctly assessing Moscow's controversial moves, thus putting the opportunity of a positive grand bargain between Russia and the US at risk.
Immediately, Israeli and international media released articles that pointed the finger at Russia as the main supplier of such sophisticated military equipment, although Moscow - most of experts maintained - provided the weaponry to Syria and Iran, which subsequently smuggled it to Hezbollah.
.... Promptly, a spokesperson for Moscow's Foreign Ministry said Russia honored its international obligations and had not been supplying modern anti-tank weapons to Hezbollah, a response that few in Israel consider convincing.
While Israel reflects on the tactical troubles encountered in the 32 days of conflict, two main political and strategic questions deserve to be addressed. The first, of course, is that of Russian military supplies and diplomatic support to Middle Eastern state and non-state actors (Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas) that Washington considers the worst enemies to its proposed "New Middle East" project and to Israel's security.
The second question, however, is that of Russia's grand strategy. Failing to understand the broader picture prevents observers from correctly assessing Moscow's controversial moves, thus putting the opportunity of a positive grand bargain between Russia and the US at risk.
"Don't ask, don't tell" is their principal operating procedure. That, and "if we didn't do it, somebody else will" (try that one next time you're caught flogging cocaine to kiddies).
And I will write my diary on the British arms industry soon...promise. keep to the Fen Causeway
Although its high hourly wage structure has led automakers to outsource production in eastern Europe and China, Germany has still maintained its international competitiveness in premium markets. Only a few years ago, the death knell was sounded for automotive suppliers and manufacturers in Germany, with reports of downsizing and production being shifted abroad to emerging eastern European countries and China, where labor costs are considerably lower than in the West. But now those forecasts of doom appear to be premature and unjustified. "The strong pressure to cut costs then led to a narrow minded focus on high labor costs here, but that view has widened considerably," said Jan Miller, a spokesman for Ernst & Young business consultants, who conducted a recent industry survey. "Other factors, such as our highly qualified workforce and innovative edge, are equally important. What has changed is the image of Germany as a production site. The hourly cost of hiring an industrial worker in the western part of Germany is the third highest in the world at 28 euros ($36), compared to 19 euros in the US and only 4 euros in Slovakia and Poland, according to the Cologne Institute for Economic Research. High labor costs, but unrivalled German infrastructure "Such high costs to the employer are a major drawback in Germany, but the tightly woven net of suppliers, services and high tech research, which supports the industrial core is unrivalled here," said Martin Leutz, spokesman for Gesamtmetall, an employer's association in the metal and electrical sector which represents the big players such as Siemens, Daimler-Chrysler and BMW, as well as mid-sized and small companies. "This kind of cluster structure, which allows for depth, diversity, streamlined efficiency and quick decision making, is hard to duplicate in other countries."
Only a few years ago, the death knell was sounded for automotive suppliers and manufacturers in Germany, with reports of downsizing and production being shifted abroad to emerging eastern European countries and China, where labor costs are considerably lower than in the West. But now those forecasts of doom appear to be premature and unjustified.
"The strong pressure to cut costs then led to a narrow minded focus on high labor costs here, but that view has widened considerably," said Jan Miller, a spokesman for Ernst & Young business consultants, who conducted a recent industry survey. "Other factors, such as our highly qualified workforce and innovative edge, are equally important. What has changed is the image of Germany as a production site. The hourly cost of hiring an industrial worker in the western part of Germany is the third highest in the world at 28 euros ($36), compared to 19 euros in the US and only 4 euros in Slovakia and Poland, according to the Cologne Institute for Economic Research. High labor costs, but unrivalled German infrastructure
"Such high costs to the employer are a major drawback in Germany, but the tightly woven net of suppliers, services and high tech research, which supports the industrial core is unrivalled here," said Martin Leutz, spokesman for Gesamtmetall, an employer's association in the metal and electrical sector which represents the big players such as Siemens, Daimler-Chrysler and BMW, as well as mid-sized and small companies. "This kind of cluster structure, which allows for depth, diversity, streamlined efficiency and quick decision making, is hard to duplicate in other countries."
Except that we designed expensive but nasty products nobody really wanted to buy. It's always been a british fault to flog the same old crap harder than build a better product that sells itself. Cost-cutting accountatns with pygmy imaginations were always cutting costs rather than improving product. keep to the Fen Causeway
High labor costs, but unrivalled German infrastructure "Such high costs to the employer are a major drawback in Germany, but the tightly woven net of suppliers, services and high tech research, which supports the industrial core is unrivalled here,"
"Such high costs to the employer are a major drawback in Germany, but the tightly woven net of suppliers, services and high tech research, which supports the industrial core is unrivalled here,"
Countries like Germany and Japan which have invested in workers and facilities are going to have a natural advantage to those like the US which have dismantled their industrial capibility and invested "cost savings" in militarism and cronyism.
Just because the quality of local relationships can't be measured with a neat single number doesn't mean those relationships aren't a huge influence on the bottom line.
· Former PM in running for mayor of Bordeaux · Convicted in 2004 for part in party funding scandal France's disgraced former prime minister Alain Juppé yesterday announced his return to politics, two years after he was convicted of corruption in a party funding scandal. Mr Juppé, 61, was found guilty in 2004 of being part of a corrupt scheme in the 1980s to put workers for Jacques Chirac's neo-Gaullist RPR party on the payroll of Paris town hall. He has spent a year in self-imposed exile teaching at a university in Quebec. But the protege whom President Chirac called "the most brilliant man of his generation" and groomed for the presidency said he would return to his old powerbase at Bordeaux town hall, where he was mayor for nine years until his conviction. This week all 50 elected members in the centre-right grouping that dominates Bordeaux council announced their mass resignation to allow early elections in October in which Mr Juppé will run for mayor. They said his return was "necessary" for the future of the port city in south-west France. Mr Juppé, who received a 14-month suspended sentence for corruption and was barred from holding elected office for a year, said yesterday he would also stand as an MP for Mr Chirac's centre-right party, the UMP, in next year's parliamentary elections.
France's disgraced former prime minister Alain Juppé yesterday announced his return to politics, two years after he was convicted of corruption in a party funding scandal.
Mr Juppé, 61, was found guilty in 2004 of being part of a corrupt scheme in the 1980s to put workers for Jacques Chirac's neo-Gaullist RPR party on the payroll of Paris town hall. He has spent a year in self-imposed exile teaching at a university in Quebec.
But the protege whom President Chirac called "the most brilliant man of his generation" and groomed for the presidency said he would return to his old powerbase at Bordeaux town hall, where he was mayor for nine years until his conviction.
This week all 50 elected members in the centre-right grouping that dominates Bordeaux council announced their mass resignation to allow early elections in October in which Mr Juppé will run for mayor. They said his return was "necessary" for the future of the port city in south-west France.
Mr Juppé, who received a 14-month suspended sentence for corruption and was barred from holding elected office for a year, said yesterday he would also stand as an MP for Mr Chirac's centre-right party, the UMP, in next year's parliamentary elections.
Not sure what you mean? Juppé was Chirac's right hand man. It might be to be a spoiler for Sarkozy, but it's probably too late for that. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
The leaders of Britain's biggest businesses employing millions of people have called on the Government to allow unlimited immigration from Bulgaria and Romania when the two former Eastern Bloc states join the European Union next year. They said any break in the "open door" policy that has seen hundreds of thousands of migrants from Poland and other eastern European countries come to Britain would be a major mistake. The business leaders have put their names to a statement issued by the Business for New Europe Group (BNEG), a pressure group calling for further integration. Their support for a continued influx of workers will create a fresh headache for the Government, which is struggling to contain a political rebellion, and threatens to split the business community. Five of the group's advisory council, including the UK heads of Sainsbury, the supermarket giant, Centrica, which owns British Gas, and Merrill Lynch, the Wall Street investment bank, have put their names to the letter. But it is understood to have the support of other members of the council that numbers the heads of Carphone Warehouse, Alliance Boots, the high street chemists, the oil giant BP and the power company National Grid as members.
They said any break in the "open door" policy that has seen hundreds of thousands of migrants from Poland and other eastern European countries come to Britain would be a major mistake. The business leaders have put their names to a statement issued by the Business for New Europe Group (BNEG), a pressure group calling for further integration.
Their support for a continued influx of workers will create a fresh headache for the Government, which is struggling to contain a political rebellion, and threatens to split the business community.
Five of the group's advisory council, including the UK heads of Sainsbury, the supermarket giant, Centrica, which owns British Gas, and Merrill Lynch, the Wall Street investment bank, have put their names to the letter.
But it is understood to have the support of other members of the council that numbers the heads of Carphone Warehouse, Alliance Boots, the high street chemists, the oil giant BP and the power company National Grid as members.
(Or something like that, anyway.)
MADRID (Reuters) -- Spain's Socialist government said on Friday it wanted to officially recognize victims of the 1930s civil war and offer compensation to relatives of the dead and imprisoned. But the opposition accused it of reopening old wounds and some relatives of the dead said the plan did not go far enough. "The government wants to recognize and extend the rights of those who suffered persecution or violence during the civil war and dictatorship," said Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, announcing a bill to be sent to parliament. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed during Spain's 1936-39 war which was followed by a right-wing dictatorship of the victorious General Francisco Franco until he died in 1975. Under the proposed law, relatives of victims would be able to request a declaration from a parliamentary commission that family members were unjustly killed or imprisoned, and could apply for economic compensation. The law would also offer help in finding the remains of victims buried in hidden graves and make it easier for foreigners who fought against Franco in the International Brigades to obtain Spanish citizenship. Opposition leader Mariano Rajoy, of the right-wing Popular Party which has roots in Franco's movement, accused the government of reopening wounds left by the war which overthrew a democratically-elected Republican government.
But the opposition accused it of reopening old wounds and some relatives of the dead said the plan did not go far enough.
"The government wants to recognize and extend the rights of those who suffered persecution or violence during the civil war and dictatorship," said Deputy Prime Minister Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, announcing a bill to be sent to parliament.
Hundreds of thousands of people were killed during Spain's 1936-39 war which was followed by a right-wing dictatorship of the victorious General Francisco Franco until he died in 1975.
Under the proposed law, relatives of victims would be able to request a declaration from a parliamentary commission that family members were unjustly killed or imprisoned, and could apply for economic compensation.
The law would also offer help in finding the remains of victims buried in hidden graves and make it easier for foreigners who fought against Franco in the International Brigades to obtain Spanish citizenship.
Opposition leader Mariano Rajoy, of the right-wing Popular Party which has roots in Franco's movement, accused the government of reopening wounds left by the war which overthrew a democratically-elected Republican government.
Things are starting to look up for Dominique de Villepin after France's prime minister received a warm welcome on Tuesday for his plan to increase tax relief for low-paid workers. On Thursday, he is expected to get another boost with the news of a drop in unemployment for July. Mr de Villepin has kept a low profile over the summer, while he was still reeling from the humiliating defeat he suffered over his bungled youth labour reform in April. But this week he is seeking to regain the initiative with a string of new policies on jobs and the economy. The new measures are an attempt by Mr de Villepin to build on his improving public approval ratings, reflecting a rebound in France's economy, falling unemployment and the high-profile role played by his government in the crisis over Lebanon. In a televised appearance on Monday night, he announced plans to address "the malaise felt by many of our compatriots over their incomes" particularly the "low paid". As petrol and property prices have outstripped wages, many French people have felt the pinch and complained that their spending power is lower. Le Parisien newspaper on Tuesday highlighted the level of concern with its front page headline: "10 ideas for a cheaper return to school".
Mr de Villepin has kept a low profile over the summer, while he was still reeling from the humiliating defeat he suffered over his bungled youth labour reform in April. But this week he is seeking to regain the initiative with a string of new policies on jobs and the economy.
The new measures are an attempt by Mr de Villepin to build on his improving public approval ratings, reflecting a rebound in France's economy, falling unemployment and the high-profile role played by his government in the crisis over Lebanon.
In a televised appearance on Monday night, he announced plans to address "the malaise felt by many of our compatriots over their incomes" particularly the "low paid".
As petrol and property prices have outstripped wages, many French people have felt the pinch and complained that their spending power is lower. Le Parisien newspaper on Tuesday highlighted the level of concern with its front page headline: "10 ideas for a cheaper return to school".
reeling from the humiliating defeat he suffered over his bungled youth labour reform in April.
That, and the Clearstream affair. Clearstream suddenly, magically, dropped out of sight, allowing Villepin and Chirac to recover.
You may think Nicolas Sarkozy did not stage-manage the affair through leaks of documents, etc, then slam the brakes on when he saw he was driving the entire French right into the wall.
You may also think Santa comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve.
As petrol and property prices have outstripped wages many French people have felt the pinch and complained that their spending power is lower.
Even consumer associations and unions do not claim that. They only say that growth in purchasing power is less than claimed, not exactly the same thing. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Poland's prime minister, makes his first foreign trip to Brussels on Wednesday to patch up relations that have become strained since his government came to power last year. He will tell leaders that Poland is pro-European Union when he meets José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, president of the European parliament, and Javier Solana, EU foreign policy chief. "I am going first of all to get to know the people who are making decisions in Brussels and in the European Union and Nato to tell them that what they read in the western press about Poland is a misunderstanding, and to say that we want to take part in discussions on the future of the union," Mr Kaczynski told the Financial Times. Poland's European credentials have been damaged by talk of restoring the death penalty, attacks on the independence of the central bank, arguments with its former foe Germany, and bans by some cities on gay pride parades. EU officials are concerned over Warsaw's perceived lack of engagement in European affairs, and protection of state industries such as banking and shipbuilding.
He will tell leaders that Poland is pro-European Union when he meets José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, president of the European parliament, and Javier Solana, EU foreign policy chief.
"I am going first of all to get to know the people who are making decisions in Brussels and in the European Union and Nato to tell them that what they read in the western press about Poland is a misunderstanding, and to say that we want to take part in discussions on the future of the union," Mr Kaczynski told the Financial Times.
Poland's European credentials have been damaged by talk of restoring the death penalty, attacks on the independence of the central bank, arguments with its former foe Germany, and bans by some cities on gay pride parades.
EU officials are concerned over Warsaw's perceived lack of engagement in European affairs, and protection of state industries such as banking and shipbuilding.
LONDON (Reuters) - A U.S. plane carrying "dangerous goods" en route to Tel Aviv refuelled at a British airport on Saturday, a day after Washington apologised to London for breaking rules on Israel-bound flights with bombs onboard. A second U.S. flight to Israel will also stop at Scotland's Prestwick airport on Sunday, said a spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority, Britain's independent aviation regulator. Critics of Prime Minister Tony Blair's staunch support for U.S. President George W. Bush over Israel's bombardment of Lebanon expressed outrage over the new flights, saying Britain should not be used to transit bombs to Israel. Bush apologised to Blair on Friday in the U.S. capital after Britain complained that Washington had not followed correct procedures on flying bombs to Israel via Prestwick. "A cargo flight operated by a commercial cargo operator flew to Tel Aviv today via Prestwick and there'll be a second flight tomorrow," said the spokesperson for the aviation regulator.
A second U.S. flight to Israel will also stop at Scotland's Prestwick airport on Sunday, said a spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority, Britain's independent aviation regulator.
Critics of Prime Minister Tony Blair's staunch support for U.S. President George W. Bush over Israel's bombardment of Lebanon expressed outrage over the new flights, saying Britain should not be used to transit bombs to Israel.
Bush apologised to Blair on Friday in the U.S. capital after Britain complained that Washington had not followed correct procedures on flying bombs to Israel via Prestwick.
"A cargo flight operated by a commercial cargo operator flew to Tel Aviv today via Prestwick and there'll be a second flight tomorrow," said the spokesperson for the aviation regulator.
Cluster bombs for US clients: wave that through.
It's all about fighting terra.
Margaret Thatcher and Clement Attlee have been ranked as the greatest prime ministers of the 20th century by a historian in BBC History Magazine. Giving the leaders points from zero to five, Francis Beckett put Tony Blair mid-table with three, saying his Iraq war policy affected his standing. The list was based on how well the leaders implemented their policies - not on the policies themselves.
Giving the leaders points from zero to five, Francis Beckett put Tony Blair mid-table with three, saying his Iraq war policy affected his standing.
The list was based on how well the leaders implemented their policies - not on the policies themselves.
Perhaps Thatcher and Atlee were better at implementing their policies, but surely the fact that Winston Churchill was, you know, Winston Churchill should have been sufficient to match those two. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
I especially like the one from Trond Ove.
