cafebabel.com

Slovenian journalist: death threats after arms trade trilogy

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:18:09 -0000

In Slovenia, a trilogy published between summer 2011 and spring 2012 has exposed the secrets of the arms trade during the Balkans war and the role of the country's politicians in it. It's been an ache in the sides of those in power and with money and interests whom the book denounces. Co-writer Blaz Zgaga, 38, may be in hiding but he won't stay down

Peace in 2011: 'solutions to conflicts do exist’

('Annie Rutherford',) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:15:14 -0000

From democratic aspirations to the transformation of the media game, Cathy Van Dorslaer, a Belgian psychologist specialising in the prevention of conflicts, explains why she believes 2011 stood under the sign of peace

Ivana Simic Bodrozic and co: more women on Croatia literary scene

('sladana perkovic',) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:28:30 -0000

The Zagreb-based poet and writer's coming-of-age drama Hotel Zagorje is the theme of a literary event in Paris. Though her debut novel stays true to a tradition in contemporary Croatian fiction, the 29-year-old gets her audience in a flurry with the book's themes of war, women, the past and an inevitable future together

Heartbreaking Movies Of Staggering Bosnian Conflicts

('sladana perkovic',) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 17:33:54 -0000

Sixteen years since the end of conflicts, Bosnia is becoming the ‘promised land’ for moviemakers from Hollywood and Europe starving for a real commercial war story. Is the tragic Bosnian story finally beginning to make money?

I like Mostar: are there really no tourists who want to go to Bosnia?

('Monica Mircescu',) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:37:19 -0000

Mostar and I go back a long way. Ours is the story of a missed encounter – in 1998. Fast forward to September 2011: cafebabel.com organises the annual network meeting in Dubrovnik. On learning that the city is only 150 kilometres away from Mostar, I decide to revisit the city I never reached

Libya after Gaddafi: Europe’s Iraq?

('Culturissima',) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:13:11 -0000

The post-Gaddafi era is taking shape around the national transition council, which is currently in control of Tripoli. Uncertainty about the future is already taking hold though, with fears that Libya could become a new Iraq. This time it falls to Europe to avoid repeating the post-Saddam disaster

Book trade faces bust in Balkans

('Ruth Halkon',) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:21:44 -0000

‘Remaining indifferent to books means recklessly impoverishing your life,’ said Yugoslavia’s best known author, Ivo Andric. Fifty years after he won his Nobel prize, people across the former Yugoslavia are in danger of ignoring this health warning

Serb general and 'Bosnia defect' Jovan Divjak under arrest since March

('AdeleK',) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:11:45 -0000

As Bosnia commemorates the Srebrenica massacre of 8, 000 Bosniaks in 1995, the former Serbian general Jovan Divjak is being held in Austria for crimes that he undoubtedly did not commit. He defected to the Bosnian army at the beginning of the 1992-1995 war. The president of the French association Confrontations Europe is convinced that European democracy is being tested in the Balkans right now

Croatian writer Olja Savicevic: 'We have never lived in a normal society'

Tue, 31 May 2011 12:21:40 -0000

The writer from Split, 36, recently published her debut novel 'Goodbye Cowboys' in German. Her award-winning short stories and poetry have been translated in over ten languages. We talk war, youth and why she one day hopes to speak about the 'tragedy' of her family 'more openly'

Under EU status pressure? Ratko Mladic arrested in Serbia: live from Belgrade and Sarajevo

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:03:55 -0000

The alleged war criminal and genocide suspect, 69, will answer international charges of genocide, extermination and murder after his arrest and extradition to the UN war crimes tribunal. As the EU parliament’s president Jerzy Buzek welcomes this ‘good news for Serbia, for the stability of the region’ and for ‘Serbia's EU accession process’, two Serbian and Bosnian twentysomethings react with relief

Gaddafi, Tito, UN: Libyan crisis impact on Balkans

('Elaine Jordan',) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:15:00 -0000

Over the past few days many comparisons have been made between the Libyan war and the Balkan crisis of the nineties as western powers come up with the same humanitarian arguments they used then to justify their intervention in Libya now. But what is the connection? A closer look at the double standards and political games played during bombing campaigns

Small money, big things: four film and art initiatives in Kosovo

('Jovana Zivkovic',) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:34:24 -0000

The economic climate ensures the making of only one film financed by centre for cinematography per year, whilst exhibition opportunities are spare. Young Kosovars are working where they believe they can help – in society, with ordinary people

Social networking in Sarajevo: analyse this (over Bosnian coffee)

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:48:15 -0000

Bosnia's capital wears its war wounds from the 1992-1995 war with Serbia honestly, the signs on its bomb-shelled buildings and pavements. What about its mental scars fifteen years on? Amidst a blaze of foreign healing initiatives, few private psychologists and one 'social networking internet cafe', this is a society which is resolved to solve its problems - globalised as they are - over coffee

UN resolution Libya: Spanish, Polish, Belgian and German media react

('euro topics',) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:10:48 -0000

France and the UK can strike; the UN security council implements a no-fly zone over Libya as of 17 March. Europeans agree that intervention is the right decision although it took its time to make a decision. Others warn of the unpredictable consequences. Press review

Google Books Ngram Viewer: scan ‘Europe’, ‘crisis’ and ‘unemployment’

('Naomi R',) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:00:00 -0000

The new online search tool can trace the history of each of the 500 billion words words in google’s 5.2 million scanned books, dating back 500 years. As Europe’s medias select their words of the year, is it time to take a step back from the terms which defined 2010?

Calm Lebanon ‘crisis’: Blackberrys not Kalashnikovs

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 07:30:00 -0000

On 12 January, eleven ministers from the the unity coalition government resigned en masse. Western backed caretaker prime minister Saad Hariri has refused to be a part of a coalition potentially led by the militant Shia muslim group Hezbollah

Achmed Sakajew: ‘Chechnya is the only place in Europe devoid of law’

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:25:47 -0000

The former Chechen prime minister is critical of Europe’s farniente in the North Caucasus. Interview

What does terrorism mean in Europe anyway

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:30:00 -0000

On 18 October EU counter-terrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove warned about governments crying wolf during recent threats of a new terrorist alert. The last time the EU continent was attacked was during the London bombings of 2005. The term ‘terrorism’ has taken on various meanings

Young thirtysomething joining ETA, a dying serpent

('Silvia Alexe',) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:30:00 -0000

Half a century and 839 killings later, the Basque separatist organisation summons international mediators to ‘fix’ the conflict; its cocky tone towards Brussels almost makes it sound like as a global actor whining to be listened to. What does an armed group in 21st century Europe mean anyway?

Israeli soldier: 'Arabic language of Middle East'

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:00:00 -0000

He will finish his military service in October aged 22. Daniel from Tel Aviv is sure of his ideas: Obama, peace, politics, Israel-Palestine, Europe-Turkey... A spontaneous voice far from stereotypes which the media reinforce daily. Interview

Young Europeans remember 9/11

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:38:28 -0000

It’s eight years since the attacks which killed 2, 752 people, destroyed the World Trade Centres and damaged the Pentagon on 11 September 2001. The cafebabel.com editorial team share their memories from across the waters on the event which shaped America and the world today

Internet platform Wikileaks divides EU media

('eurotopics',) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:20:24 -0000

On 25 July, the Sweden-based organisation co-operated with three major media sources to publish secret reports about the war in Afghanistan. The Austrian, British, Swiss and Estonian press disagree on this new transparency

Belfast riots 2010: Orange Order, not girl guides

('Tim Mac an Airchinnigh',) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:01:16 -0000

More bad news from the North? On the evening news in the Irish Republic, a report on the Belfast riots in catholic districts came third after a local car crash and economics reports. In the shadow of the 1998 peace process, the riots are the product of raging frustration in a shattered community

Cinema review: Danish documentary Armadillo

('Alison Frank',) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:15:00 -0000

To make this documentary, Danish director Janus Metz Pedersen spent three and a half months at the allied camp on the front lines of southern Afghanistan. There's a tenuous division between fiction and reality in a film which finds the cruel violence of the fighters unbelievable

UK, Germany, Iraq: welcome to the Hotel Coalition

('Metsa Rahimi',) — Wed, 26 May 2010 19:04:12 -0000

From Britain's 'wildcard' to Iraq's power vacuum, the outcome between the elections has been similar - the winning party not gaining a majority and the other two forming a coalition to push them out. In Iraq, negotiations have been ongoing since 7 March, with over two months of riots and attacks. Parallel between one of the world's biggest democracies and a failing state

Obituary: Irish academic Fred Halliday dies in Barcelona

('Metsa Rahimi',) — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:09:43 -0000

The Dubliner passed away on 26 April. No student in east-west relations would have escaped the work of this internationally acclaimed scholar in international relations, unabashed European socialist and eternal friend of the Middle East. Tribute from an Iranian Londoner who met the Irish scholar in Spain

Dutch government fails over Afghanistan

('euro topics',) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:05:50 -0000

The grand coalition government in the Netherlands collapsed on the weekend after it was unable to reach a consensus on prolonging the operations in Afghanistan. The Spanish, Dutch and Belgian press write that although this won't prompt other states to withdraw their troops from the country, it may give the right-wing populists a boost in new Dutch elections

Dismantled: five myths about Kosovo

('Martin W\xc3\xa4hlisch',) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:46:31 -0000

On 17 February, Europe’s youngest country celebrates its second anniversary. Presumably, most still wouldn't find Kosovo on a map. We regularly read about its soldiers, organised crime and demand for visas. Two roommates in Prishtina – a Kosovar and a German – share their most striking and basic common observations

Staff Benda Bilili, voice of the voiceless in Congo

('Sofia Verzbolovskis',) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:34:29 -0000

‘We're all handicapped people, ain't we?’ runs their myspace byline. After more than a month of touring through Europe, this group of paraplegic street musicians from Kinshasa left crowds elated and bewildered almost a year after releasing their debut album Très Très Fort, courtesy of Belgian producer Vincent Kenis of Congotronics fame. A French documentary on the group has been underway for seven years

Olga Rodríguez: 'Journalists tend to be very individualistic'

('Helen Swain',) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:43:33 -0000

On a famed terrace close to Madrid’s Palacio Real (Royal Palace) at nightfall, the 34-year-old Spanish award-winning journalist talks about two of her passions, the Middle East and journalism

Eastern European desire for rearmament

('Darren Thompson',) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:55:29 -0000

Both central and eastern European governments vocally supported US plans to install military defence systems in the region, even if it meant they were to all intents and purposes digging their own graves. Out of authentic and hypothesised shadows of the past and uncertainties on the future, militarisation secrets and desires are emerging

Vjollca Dibra on being a young poetess in pre-war Kosovo

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:38:08 -0000

The thirtysomething works at OSCE logistics in Pristina when I meet her in late 2007, four months before Kosovo declares independence from Serbia. Who you might brand your average blonde, bespectacled working mother-of-two is also one of Kosovo's youngest recognised female poets

Nicolai Lilin talks tattoos, Bulgarians and Transdniestria

('Fiona Herdman Smith',) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:45:00 -0000

From Russia to Italy via Transdniestria. Siberian Education, the literary debut of Nicolai Lilin, tells the life story of a young man who, in spite of changing country and culture, has never forgotten the historic traditions of his original community. Interview with the 29 year-old writer and tattoo artist

All's fair in love and war

('Lydia Bigos',) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:28:06 -0000

The stories of lovers from times of war are the subject of countless numbers of books and films. Why are love and war so fascinating and why are they always shown together? Tour of Europe's expressions

European citizenship saves me from a Polish train fine

('Kinia Adamczyk',) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:15:00 -0000

A debate over European law over Polish law kicks off in Gdansk, bringing a chance meeting with a Chechnyan heading to Warsaw. Conversations in the east

Baby soldiers and peacekeeping in Kosovo: why choose the army?

('Alexandra Baxter',) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:31:53 -0000

Tomi, a lively and remarkably blond 24-year-old Finn, speaks candidly about the six months he spent in Kosovo as a volunteer in the NATO-UN peacekeeping campaign. Along with 105 other young compatriots, among them four girls, he was deployed to the Balkans to serve for the UN

Kosovo declared independence one year ago. Is the region really destabilised?

('Mira Galanova',) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:39:48 -0000

As the authority of the world’s newest country moved to the EU, Belgrade asks the international community for a role in shaping Kosovo's future. But there are signs that the government would like to put the issue aside

The Reader: Germany’s Nazi past a festival highlight

('Agnes Emri',) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 22:00:00 -0000

Stephen Daldry's stirring film is an attempt to ethically approach taking responsibility for the Holocaust crimes which is ingeniously intertwined with the story of ill-fated love. The phenomenal Kate Winslet picked up a BAFTA on 8 February to add to her Golden Globe for her role as Hanna Schmitz

Young Europeans only know the Holocaust through war movies

('Tuesday Gutierrez',) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:02:27 -0000

Or do they? One of the most horrific events of the 20th century remains a painful recollection of a war spurred by false ideology that claimed six million lives. Nobody wants to take the trip down the road of oblivion, because it forces us to revisit the reality of humanity at its worst. Conversations in Spain and Italy

Eyewitness Israel: Gaza, war and the wall of incomprehension between Europe

('Helen Swain',) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:00:02 -0000

From Jerusalem to Sderot, Israelis are lamenting the pro-Palestinian stance of European public opinion, as well as serious anti-Semitic acts. They have warned that dialogue with Hamas is impossible

Studies without borders: from war-torn Chechnya to France

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:00:00 -0000

In its five year history, ‘Etudes Sans Frontières’ has enabled 190 students to go to university even if their country is involved in an armed conflict. Is it an answer to guaranteed peace in the future? President Aurélia Chaudagne says yes. Interview

Press review: EU-Russia summit in Nice, friends again?

('euro topics',) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:55:23 -0000

In a 14 November meeting in the southern French city, the EU wants to resume negotiations for a partnership agreement with Russia. Talks had been temporarily broken off after the August conflict in Georgia

Riots, reactions in Montenegro and Macedonia after recognising Kosovo

('Gojko Keselj',) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:49:12 -0000

Whilst over 400, 000 Albanians celebrated openly in Macedonia, Montenegros’ 15, 000 were silent after the former Yugoslav states recognised their neighbour. Unilateral independence was declared eight months ago

Yes-man

('Jessie L.',) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:59:08 -0000

Don't be alarmed if you hear a Spaniard declare that he's 'up for a bombing'. He doesn't intend to launch an attack; he's just an enthusiastic person, which can be misinterpreted as being a bit loopy

LinEa babelblog: caricatures in democracy

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:45:00 -0000

A babelblog where satire is a speciality. Italian and Belgian cartoonists

War criminal Karadzic wants a 'fair trial' at the Hague

('Mira Galanova',) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:35:03 -0000

During Serb war criminal Radovan Karadzic's last appearance before the Hague at the end of August, judge Iain Bonomy resisted attempts to challenge the validity of the trial. Karadzic is to report ‘irregularities’ at a special hearing on 17 September

Poland and others - Europe's reactions to war

('Andrew Burgess',) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:00:00 -0000

'Russia can have only vassals or enemies at its borders.' Reflecting back over the course of centuries of history, George F. Kennan's observation has again proved to be perfectly accurate. Why is EU foreign diplomacy still stuttering?

The Caucasus war viewed through Europe's blogs

('Ole Skambraks',) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:35:50 -0000

Blogospheres are vibrating in the aftermath of the war in the Caucasus. The need to understand and debate is huge, as spin doctors have been manipulating the news on both sides

Abkhazia's Maxim Gunjia: 'the US reaction was openly pro-Georgian'

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:15:00 -0000

Interview and five-date diary from the foreign minister of Georgia’s 'other' breakaway region

Giulietto Chiesa on Russia-Georgia war: ‘Europe is responsible too’

('Benjamin Lasry',) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:15:26 -0000

Three questions to the Italian journalist and MEP, who discusses the South Ossetian conflict, Europe’s mistake and why this was the worst European media coverage since the war in Iraq