In The News

Dangers to the Constitution

Elise Kissling May 28, 2004
This week's agreement on an expanded immigration law in Germany allows wider and freer entry for foreign nationals, but the political debates leading up to it have raised questions and concerns on many levels. Elise Kissling, in Germany's F.A.Z. Weekly, writes that an earlier legal proposal, strongly backed by German Interior Minister Otto Schily in the name of security from terrorism,...

Arab Presence at G-8 Summit

Mohammed A. R. Galadari May 25, 2004
This year’s G8 summit, held in The United States, may be punctuated, for the first time, by the conspicuous presence of leaders of Arab states. This is a departure from the last meeting of world powers, held in France in 2003, which featured discussions that did not directly involve the Middle East and included little input from the Arab community – only Egyptian and Saudi Arabian delegations...

Doubts Remain Over Iraq’s Path to Sovereignty

Roula Khalaf May 25, 2004
13 months after the fall of Baghdad, the city’s residents are frustrated about the direction their nation has taken. Doubts about the competence of both occupying forces and Iraqi leadership have surfaced as the June 30 deadline for transfer of power approaches. Reporters from the Financial Times spoke to young Iraqis, for whom “the joy of freedom… has been overshadowed by anxieties over Iraq...

Washington Hopes for the Best; Beijing Prepares for the Worst

Richard Baum May 24, 2004
In the weeks leading up to Taiwan's presidential election and referendum, China issued repeated warning against any move towards independence. The narrow win by President Chen Shui-bian, considered by Beijing as “splittist” and “troublemaker” has not helped to defuse tension. Leading China scholar Richard Baum of University of California in Los Angeles says that while Chen moderated his...

Russia Backs Kyoto to Get on Path to Join WTO

Peter Baker May 22, 2004
Russian president Vladimir Putin’s announcement that Russia would support the Kyoto protocol on limitation of emission of green house gases into the atmosphere marks an important step. The Kyoto Protocol received a big blow when the Bush administration refused to support it. Given that there was a strong campaign by some elements in Russia against supporting the protocol the future of Kyoto...

CANF: Cuba's Liberty Lies with Activists

Luisa Yanez May 21, 2004
As Cuba marked its 102nd anniversary as an independent country, Cuban Americans demanded greater freedom in the island-nation. Jorge Mas Santos, chairman of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF), urged Cuban Americans to vote in November for the presidential candidate that they believe is most committed to ending Fidel Castro's regime, but said that internal dissent, not external...

Japan Seeks Greater Global Role

Richard Halloran May 20, 2004
After decades of quiet growth and official pacifism, Japan is seeking an increased role in diplomatic and military actions globally. The country is now debating redrafting its constitution to amend an article that forbids the use of military force in international disputes. This attempt at reversal or modification of Japan's official pacifism is largely in reaction to the menace presented by...