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War of words escalates between EU countries Hungary and Slovakia

King "Stephen" is not just a Hungarian medieval king. He was Hungary's first king, the "statemaker." He founded Hungary and he is also a saint. So, he is the most important character in Hungary, even now. His feast is also the biggest in Hungary (and in the heart of Hungarians). This is why it was so important at Mr. Solyom's visit. It is a fact that Hungarian troops were among the Warsaw Pact's troops in 1968. But it wasn't President Solyom who dictated the day of the unveiling of a statue of King Saint Stephen. It is a fact too, that Czechoslovakian (Slovakian) troops were among the Warsaw Pact's troops in 1956, when Hungary was invaded by communist forces, with many Hungarian deaths - but Hungary never blasted any Slovakian politician's visit to Hungary. -- Attila Szalabán, Hungary

Unfortunately your article is extremely one-sided, displaying only the Slovak point of view. The visit was arranged weeks before through diplomatic channels as the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs clearly proved. The last days' sudden "anger" from the Slovaks is just another typically unfair manuever by them. Most people in both countries simply forgot many years ago what happened in 1968. The Czechs, for instance, where these things happened just laugh at this Slovak sensitivity -- Péter Kuszál, Hungary

This is a kind of propaganda problem. A young country, such as Slovakia, lacks strong foundations, but they will feel relief for a while if they can find something in common. They will look for it in the past and, if they can not find it fast enough, they will create illusions. To accomplish the task, the easy way is to find a common enemy like Hungarians. Now, they can feel like a community, they know what it means to be a citizen in Slovakia. To be anti-Hungarian in Slovakia is a fashionable thing nowdays. -- Gergely Oskolás, Hungary

Green Party minister angers German auto industry with car comments

I feel honored by the comments by Ms. Kuenast as a Japanese citizen. It is no wonder she is tough on German car makers because she is a Green Party member and not always a friend of corporations. Only Germany can create green cars that could compete with Japan in today's world. By the way, the election of the lower house will soon occur in Japan. But there is no Green Party of Japan established yet. Germany should know it has a good chance to be the winner of the green car wars. -- Snowman, Japan

Greenpeace drops 'granite shield' off Sweden's coast

Greenpeace usually puts a lot of effort in determining what cause they will put their energy into before committing to pursue that cause. This is then followed up by a campaign which can last many years in which they try to improve the situation that they see is flawed by asking the industry in question to become involved in the solution. If this approach fails then, and only then, will they commit the much greater resources needed to take direct action. This is what I have observed of the organization when I was a member for about five years in the early 90's. In summary, if Greenpeace decides that they need to go to all the trouble of hauling huge boulders out to the sea in order to protect a specific environment then I would be fairly confident that the action is not only necessary, but will also in this case enhance the environment that they are trying to protect. -- Gilbert O'Sughrue, New Zealand

Merkel reiterates support for expellees' memorial

There is no doubt in my mind that a memorial for expellees should exist. As the son of a Silesian mother and English father, perhaps I am one of the best placed persons to give an opinion. I do not understand why it is so hard for people to divorce the actions of a corrupt government from the populace. It seems to me that this is only ever applied to Germany. I will never accept that my family, whose history goes back hundreds of years in Silesia, should have been the ones who paid for Hitler's aggression. Should I now lose my home in England because the British government attacked Iraq? Collective responsibility was something the Americans wanted to place on the German nation, but it seems to be an accepted fact nowadays that peoples are generally not always responsible for the actions of their governments. I don't agree with the Iraq war, so why should I be punished for it? -- Peter, Great Britain

Tuscan villager celebrates biggest jackpot in European history

National lotteries are an excellent way for governments to raise additional revenue as they function like a tax on stupidity. Why shouldn't the stupid and innumerate give a little more of their money to the government? They probably receive more in government services than the intelligent and better educated and they wouldn't spend it as wisely if it remained as discretionary spending. -- Huigh Malcolm, Australia