European press review

Europe's papers are doubtful about the significance of the peace deal signed in Macedonia - and offer their advice to Nato and the West.

The Japanese prime minister's visit to a controversial war shrine is assessed by a German and a Swiss paper.

And an Italian daily considers the implications of the withdrawal of an anti-cholesterol drug by German pharmaceutical giant Bayer.

Macedonia peace deal

Germany's Berliner Zeitung says the peace deal signed in Macedonia cannot be called "historic" since it is in danger of being undermined by Albanian extremists.

The paper observes that the agreement was concluded by Albanian and Macedonian political representatives interested in stability and, eventually, EU membership.

It claims that others, which the paper calls "extremists of the Albanian KLA," do not want peace.

"In reality the KLA is made up of many splinter groups," the paper says, "united by only one motive: their willingness to use violence."

It adds that if the rebels agree to be disarmed "for tactical reasons", then Nato must face up to the fact that this process may take years rather than 30 days.

France's Liberation also expresses concern over the stability of yesterday's peace agreement.

"The combined stubbornness of the EU, of Nato and of the USA, along with barely veiled threats on future economic aid, have brought both sides to repentance," the paper says.

It warns, however, that it is urgent for Nato to keep its promise to send as soon as possible 3,500 men to disarm the ethnic Albanian rebels.

The paper adds that "this cannot be enough to make the ceasefire in Macedonia stable unless the intervention force in Kosovo, K-For, is ordered to control the border with Macedonia".

The paper concludes that this initiative, along with the cooperation of the authorities in Skopje, is what it calls "a necessary but not a sufficient condition for the return of peace to Macedonia".

Brighter view

Le Figaro in Paris strikes a more optimistic note.

"The last-minute agreement opens the way to a political resolution of the conflict by granting extra rights to the Albanian minority in Macedonia," the paper says.

It adds that the Atlantic alliance can pride itself on having, for the first time since the outbreak of the Balkans conflicts in 1991, succeeded in stopping a war before it has even started.

"This optimism must however be tempered by the reticence and the scepticism that the warring parties continue to show," the paper warns.

In an editorial headlined "Delicate peace agreement", Copenhagen's Information says that the greatest weakness of yesterday's peace agreement lies outside the Balkans - in the West.

The paper points out that Nato has promised to make 3,500 men available for disarming the Albanian rebels, but only when peace is secured and not while it is merely temporary.

"But how can it be imagined that there will be peace without a marked Western military presence?" Information asks.

"It is as if all the lessons from Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo have been forgotten," the paper concludes.

Germany's Frankfurter Rundschau considers what it calls "the Albanian version of intolerant nationalism" as the main obstacle to peace.

"From Kosovo to southern Serbia to Macedonia," the paper says, "Albanian extremists are not mainly fighting for rights but for a kind of 'Lebensraum' in which there is no room for other ethnic minorities."

It concludes that the international community must put Albanian nationalism in its place just as decisively as Serbian and Croatian nationalism.

Diplomatic skills neede

Vienna's Die Presse says Nato must not allow Albanian rebels to keep their weapons until all new rights for Albanians as set out in the peace deal have been realized.

"Using diplomatic pressure," the paper says, "it must make it clear to the rebels that with the agreement their armed rebellion has come to an end."

The paper adds that, in return, the West will have to assure the Albanians that it will guarantee the implementation of their rights by the Macedonian government.

The Budapest daily Magyar Nemzet is cautious about the Macedonian peace deal.

"Peace is still far away in Macedonia," says the headline of a report on the signing of the peace agreement.

The paper adds that Hungary is planning to take part in the Macedonian peacekeeping operation with an unarmed unit numbering 30 to 40.

Japan's war memory

Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung says Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to a controversial war shrine is symptomatic of the country's failure to honestly confront its past.

The paper suggests the premier gave in to domestic pressure, probably knowing that the visit would give rise to international criticism.

"If Japan dealt with its history more honestly," it says, "then neighbouring countries - which are not all models of democracy - would quickly be deprived of the chance to use this subject as and when they see fit as a way of putting pressure on Japan."

The paper explains that after World War II the Americans were content with less extensive reforms than in the case of Germany.

"There was no particular incentive for Japan to stop and think," it concludes.

Geneva's Le Temps says that, with his visit to the shrine, the Japanese prime minister is projecting an ambiguous image of himself.

The paper points out that Junichiro Koizumi owes his popularity to promises of vigorous reforms.

"But with this visit to the Yasukuni shrine," it says, "the prime minister is giving the impression of courting conservative voters, which could make his more liberal supporters turn their backs on him."

Markets 'punish' Bayer

Turin's La Stampa asks in an editorial how multinationals such as Bayer should be regulated after the chemical giant withdrew a drug that has been linked to several deaths.

"One of the first conclusions is that, in the case of Bayer, the world market functioned rather well," the paper says, "since it quickly and severely punished this company for its mistakes with a serious reduction in profits and a loss of image and value."

It adds that the market has within itself the ability to punish those who make mistakes or those who commit any misdemeanour, but that this tendency must be guided and strengthened by making sure multinational companies are subject to uniform checks at world level.

"Multinational companies must not be demonized, but they must be regulated better," the paper concludes.

The European press review is compiled by BBC Monitoring from internet editions of the main European newspapers and some early printed editions.