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