Khatya Chhor

March 02, 2004

Western Press Review: Iraq's Interim Constitution And The Limits Of Western Visions For Transforming The Middle East

Prague, 2 March 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Several of the major dailies today discuss the agreement yesterday in Baghdad by the Iraqi Governing Council on an interim constitution that guarantees the rights of all of Iraq's religious and ethnic groups. The accord now paves the way for a permanent constitution to be drawn up within the next few years. Other topics of media interest today include a future role for NATO in Iraq and the shortcomings of Western visions for transforming the Middle East.

March 01, 2004

Western Press Review: Elections In Iraq, Georgian Corruption, And Putin's Russia

Prague, 1 March 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Among the topics discussed in some of the world's major dailies today are a timetable for elections in Iraq, Georgia's new tough line on corruption, President Vladimir Putin's vision for re-establishing order in Russia, and civilian "disappearances" in Chechnya.

February 27, 2004

Western Press Review: Trajkovski Mourned As The 'Voice of Reason,' Debating Elections In Iraq, And The Kazakh Opposition's Challenges

Prague, 27 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Several items in the press today discuss the death of Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski after his plane went down yesterday in mountains in southern Bosnia. Trajkovski is widely credited with having been a moderate voice of reform and reconciliation in a region torn apart by ethnic divisions. Other media commentary looks at Shi'a calls for direct elections in Iraq, Romania's lingering Cold War politics, U.S.-EU cooperation in stemming Iran's nuclear ambitions, and the trials and tribulations of Kazakhstan's opposition.

February 26, 2004

Western Press Review: EU-Russia Relations, Iran's Nuclear Ambitions, And Bush's Security Policy Flaws

Prague, 26 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Discussion in the press today addresses the complexities of EU-Russian relations, the meeting tomorrow between German and U.S. leaders, referring Iran's nuclear ambitions to the UN Security Council, the prevalence of double standards in Middle East policy, and the "four flaws" of U.S. President George W. Bush's security policy.

February 25, 2004

Western Press Review: Putin's 'Act of Generosity,' The Russian Army's Sorry State, And Finding the Answer in Riga

Prague, 25 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- A review of media analysis and commentary today finds discussion of Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to dissolve his government yesterday; military incompetence and fighting a never-ending war against terror; the "heady wine" -- and hangovers -- of a fledgling democracy; and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's visit to Washington, which comes amid a media crackdown in the Caucasus state that is garnering widespread international condemnation.

February 24, 2004

Western Press Review: Iran's Controversial Vote, EU Labor Migration, Chechnya

Prague, 24 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- A review of press commentary today finds continuing discussion of Iran's controversial elections last week, which gave conservatives a majority in parliament; labor migration within the EU following expansion on 1 May; the ongoing war in Chechnya; and Russian-EU relations after enlargement.

February 17, 2004

Western Press Review: Returning Iraqi Sovereignty, Human Rights In Afghanistan, And Lithuania's Impeachment Decision

Prague, 17 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- A review of press coverage and analysis today finds discussion of the anticipated 30 June return of Iraqi sovereignty, nationalist politics in Serbia, and the impeachment of Lithuanian President Rolandas Paksas. We also hear calls for a renewal of the West's commitment to Afghanistan, as persistent insecurity, warlord rule, and human rights abuses continue to prevail in the areas outside the capital.

February 16, 2004

Western Press Review: Romania's Diplomatic High-Wire Act And A 'Policy of Neglect' In Chechnya

Prague, 16 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Among the topics at issue in the press today are Romania's risky role as a U.S. ally, the dangers of cooperating with so-called "moderate" Taliban elements, America's "policy of neglect" in Chechnya, and drawing up viable postwar plans for Iraq.

February 13, 2004

Western Press Review: Growing Pains In The Baltics And The Challenges Facing Democracy In Arab States

Prague, 13 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Among the topics discussed in some of the major dailies today are political growing pains in the Baltics, the challenges of establishing democracy in modern-day Arab states, the meeting this week between Russian and Georgian leaders in Moscow, and Afghanistan's struggling divas.

February 11, 2004

Western Press Review: Putin And The War In Chechnya, Bush's Probe Into Iraqi Intelligence

Prague, 11 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- A review of media analysis and commentary today finds discussion of a crucial political year for Ukraine, reconstructing Afghanistan, and how Russian President Vladimir Putin's fortunes are inextricably linked with the war in Chechnya. We also take a look at the plight of democratic reformers in Iran and the independent probe that is to review possible U.S. intelligence failures concerning Iraq's weapons programs in the run-up to war.

February 10, 2004

Western Press Review: A Rationale For The Iraq War And Fading Hopes For U.S.-Iranian Rapprochement

Prague, 10 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Commentary and analysis in the media today takes another look at the U.S. administration's rationale for the Iraq war, a new East-West fault line in Europe, trans-Atlantic "bickering," and fading hopes for rapprochement between Washington and Tehran. Commentary also focuses on Ivan Rybkin, the Russian presidential candidate who disappeared last week.

February 09, 2004

Western Press Review: Bush Responds To Critics, Using Trade To Combat Exploitation, And U.S.-Russian Relations

Prague, 9 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- A review of commentary and analysis in the press today finds discussion of U.S. President George W. Bush's television interview last night on a weekly American interview program, strengthening trans-Atlantic ties with the Middle East, U.S.-Russian relations, and using global trade to combat exploitation in the developing world, among other issues.

February 06, 2004

Western Press Review: Pakistan's Nuclear 'Bombshell,' The Standoff In Tehran And NATO's Rising Ambitions

Prague, 6 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Among the issues discussed in some of the major dailies today is freedom of movement within an expanded European Union, Pakistan's nuclear "bombshell," Iran's political standoff ahead of parliamentary elections, and NATO's grand ambitions -- which one author says may exceed its resources.

February 05, 2004

Western Press Review: Supremacy In Central Asia, Armenia's Economic 'Distortions,' And The Kremlin Campaign Against Russia's Belles Lettres

Prague, 5 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- A review of press commentary today finds discussion of Sino-Russian supremacy in Central Asia, how Eastern Europe is resigning itself to impending EU membership, distortions in the Armenian economy, and the Kremlin's new campaign to suppress Russian authors.

February 04, 2004

Western Press Review: Double Inquiry Into Iraq Intelligence, Kurdish Security Concerns, And EU Economic Woes

Under pressure over WMD. Prague, 4 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Today's press commentaries look at the U.S. and British inquiries into Iraqi intelligence failures, security concerns in Iraqi Kurdistan, Europe's "structural" economic shortcomings, and turning a blind eye to human suffering in the world's dictatorships.

February 03, 2004

Western Press Review: Intelligence Failures On Iraq<end/>; Iran's Political Crisis; And Human Rights In Azerbaijan

Prague, 3 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Commentary in the press today focuses largely on the announcement by U.S. President George W. Bush that an independent investigation will be launched into the apparent intelligence failures surrounding Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. The papers also look at the ongoing standoff between Iranian reformists and the conservative Guardians Council over upcoming parliamentary elections. Other items consider a proposal to revise the Dayton Peace Accord and alleged human rights abuses in Azerbaijan.

February 02, 2004

Western Press Review: U.S. Intelligence Failures, Political Crisis In Iran, And U.S.-Russian Relations

Prague, 2 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Much media analysis today focuses on the lingering questions surrounding Iraq's prewar weapons capabilities. U.S. President George W. Bush is now expected to call for an independent investigation into possible intelligence failures ahead of the war.

January 30, 2004

Western Press Review: Iran's Election Crisis, Deteriorating Security In Afghanistan, And EU Immigration

Prague, 30 January 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Analysis and commentary in the media today focuses on the political wrangling in Iran, as the conservative Guardians Council is expected to release today a final list of candidates allowed to run in February's parliamentary elections. Deteriorating security in Afghanistan is also addressed, as is UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's admonishment of the European Union for its immigration policies, and what to do with the millions of documents that make up the archives of Iraq's ousted Ba'athist regime.

January 26, 2004

Western Press Review: Debating Iraq's Elections, U.S. Policy In Azerbaijan, And Georgia's New President

Prague, 26 January 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Several analyses in the media today consider the time table for a transfer of power in Iraq, as the debate over how to best conduct elections in the country continues. Also discussed is U.S. policy in Azerbaijan; the Afghan Supreme Court's constitutional loophole; and the inauguration yesterday of Georgia's new president, Mikheil Saakashvili.

January 23, 2004

Western Press Review: The Economic Effects Of EU Enlargement; Iran's Political Standoff

Prague, 23 January 2004 (RFE/RL) -- A review of media commentary today finds a discussion of European Union enlargement and some of its likely economic effects; Germany's offer to send medical and humanitarian aid to Iraq; new initiatives for promoting reform in the Middle East; Iraq's "nascent" internal political process; and the ongoing standoff between Iran's reformist legislators and its conservative mullahs.