SWEDEN

SWEDEN

Dagens Nyheter, Stockholm, Aug. 20: What is NATO, a new discussion club or an alliance that rests on old laws? The crisis in Georgia made NATO meet — after 10 days. The result appears unclear.

What does one buy with a NATO membership? Strong company and good friends in case one should be attacked? The payment consists of a duty to stand by the other members.

Lack of unity

Things are more tricky for NATO. There is no unity about how to act. Russia has to feel a reaction. And that should be sharp, says one camp. Unwise, says the other, we should not hurt our financial relations.

The debate sounds more like those in the U.N.’s security council than the reasoning within a military alliance. Is NATO developing into yet another international discussion club? Yes, it looks like it.

KENYA

The Daily Nation, Nairobi, Aug. 19: As chairman of the Southern African Development Community, President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia played a leading role in seeking a mediated settlement to Zimbabwe’s political crisis.

Rare African leader

The death of President Mwanawasa marks the exit of a rare African leader one not content to pay lip-service to the principles that established the African Union, Nepad and the African Peer Review Mechanism.

President Mwanawasa was almost alone amongst African Heads of State willing to criticise Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe who has run down a neighbouring country into economic collapse.

The Zambian leader broke an unwritten pact that binds African leaders to close their eyes to misrule and repression by brother leaders.

The African Union was created as successor to the Organisation of African Unity, and deliberately did away with the rules that forbade interference in the internal affairs of another country.

It also pushed initiatives such as Nepad and the peer review mechanism that encouraged African leaders to behave well and nudge their colleagues to observe basic principles of democracy and good governance.

As chairman of the Southern African Development Community, President Mwanawasa played a leading role in seeking a mediated settlement to Zimbabwe’s political crisis.

He was a leader who stood on principle, and for that reason alone, he will be sorely missed.

DENMARK

Jyllands-Posten, Aarhus, Aug. 20: The crisis in Georgia shows all too clearly that any illusion that Vladimir Putin as prime minister is out of the picture, is naive.

It is still Putin who controls Moscow’s foreign policy. It could be tempting to call his successor in the presidential job, Dmitry Medvedev, a puppet. But that is not the case.

Medvedev has been supporting the Russian aggression in Georgia. He has called the U.S.-Polish missile deal a direct threat against Russia. He has threatened anyone who crosses Russia’s interests with retaliation.

No fear of confrontation

The picture that now surfaces by Russia’s emerging comeback in the international arena, is that of a Russia that will use all its resources to achieve its goals. A Russia that does not fear a confrontation with the West.

Russia has long used an aggressive strategy in its relations with the West.

Its dominance on Europe’s oil and gas markets is part of this strategy. The same applies to the use of military force against Georgia.

Not so long ago, Vladimir Putin threatened to direct Russia’s nuclear arsenal against Georgia and Ukraine, if these nations also joined NATO.