Whenever we ask city administration officials if the just-

Whenever we ask city administration officials if the just-
opened Jakarta Fair is still attractive to people, they answer
"Sure it is".

It is apparent that many people still visit the fair, now
being held in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. However, the number of
visitors has been decreasing from year to year.

The Jakarta Fair reached the height of its popularity in the
1970s when Jakarta only had Ancol and the Ragunan Zoo as
entertainment spots for families. The biggest shop at that time
was the Sarinah and the only shopping mall was Pasar Baru. And
state-owned TVRI was the only television station.

In the 1980s, the Jakarta Fair still had its appeal despite
the mushrooming number of shopping complexes. The fair was
located at the National Monument (Monas) square, which is
considered to be a strategic location. People found it easy to
reach the fair from their homes. Those living in Bogor could go
to Monas by train and those living in Tanjung Priok, North
Jakarta, and Ciputat, Tangerang, could come by public bus.

Things have changed since the fair was moved to Kemayoran in
the 1990s. It is relatively difficult for residents to get to the
fair as transportation services are not satisfactory.

It is imperative that the city administration provide instant
services to the public at the fair. These instant services would
include the issuance of birth certificates, business permits or
property tax services, which would be very attractive and helpful
to the public. In this way the city administration could offer
the public both amusement and services.

-- Warta Kota, Jakarta

Poland's EU referendum

More than three-quarters of the Poles who voted in the
weekend's referendum on European Union membership supported the
government's proposal to accept the membership agreement. That
was a historic decision, and we can sense its dimensions if we
look back 15 years, or 200 years for that matter.

Both in the 1980s and in the 1790s, the Polish people and
their leaders made clear that Poland's place was in Western
Europe. Both times, such an orientation was not acceptable to the
rulers in Moscow.

The referendum's result secures the place Poland rightfully
has in the European family. It is part of the nation's tragedy
that decade after decade it was so exposed to attack from
neighbors who had subjected themselves to power hungry tyrants.
Therefore, the Poles for centuries were not able to benefit from
their historical anchor point. ...

The referendum is significant for the Poles, and no less
important for Europe. With its 40 million people ... a democratic
Poland contributes more new members than the other nine candidate
countries put together.

-- Aftenposten, Oslo, Norway

Middle East

The U.S. government has decided to send a small team of
observers to monitor the truce. But such a team is not enough,
either in its capabilities or the credibility of its neutrality.
An international team should be considered that would include
representatives of the European Union and Russia.

Last year, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan
proposed sending a team of U.N. officials as observers, but
Israel objected, claiming the world body is against Israel.

This time, however, the painstaking efforts being put forth in
peacemaking must not be left solely in the hands of the parties
directly involved. Previous cease-fires have failed time after
time because the parties in conflict distrusted each other so
deeply. If Israel refuses to comply, the United States must apply
pressure.

We hope the Arab nations will support the Palestinian
Authority's Mahmoud Abbas in his peacemaking efforts. Of course,
they should also maintain a close watch on extremists in their
respective countries and open their own dialogue with Israel.

This peacemaking initiative has come about because the Bush
administration has turned positive toward peace in the Middle
East. The people of Arab nations will not, however, simply forget
the pro-Israel leaning of the United States or the war against
Iraq. If the United States departs from the path of being the
honest broker, the peacemaking process will be jeopardized.

-- Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo

Mideast peace

On a path fraught with great difficulties and much
controversy, the Mideast peace process is slowly but surely
advancing, gaining new momentum that is breaking down the walls
of distrust. ... the Middle East wants peace. Israel needs peace,
and so do the Palestinians ... the world over wants to contribute
to building peace. As such, the roadmap laid out by the United
States, the European Union and Russia is not just a mere call to
find a minimal accord between the sides. This initiative, this
international diplomacy, must reopen the road (toward a lasting
peace) opened a quarter century ago between (Israel's) Menahem
Begin and (Egypt's) Anwar Sadat.

-- La Nacion, Buenos Aires, Argentina