Ethics and governance in the European Financial centers

Persian Letters (Lettres persanes) is a satirical work, by Charles de Secondat, baron de Montesquieu, recounting the experiences of two Persian noblemen, Usbek and Rica, who are traveling through France. In Paris, the Persians express themselves on a wide variety of subjects, from governmental institutions to salon caricatures.

 

As this is summer time, I would like to offer some goodies on this blog with a couple of Venezuelan letters. These will be an exchange of e-mail between two Venezuelans, the first one, Manuel, residing in Venezuela and the second one, Jose, travelling in Europe.

 

 

Read First Letter

Read second letter

 

 

 

From: Manuel

To: Jose

Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 8:18 PM

Subject: Leadership

 

Dear Jose,

 

Thanks for all these explanations.

 

I understand now the reason why Hugo Chavez expelled foreigners critical of Venezuela. “No foreigner, whoever he may be, can come here and attack us. Whoever comes, we must remove him from the country. I'm talking about some gentlemen who come here for conferences.”, he said.

 

In Luxembourg, the will is the same.

 

The experience of Luxembourg demonstrates that Venezuela is a democracy and Chavez a great politician.

 

However it is not by chance that he has been awarded so many honorary degrees: Honorary Doctorate in Political Science (Kyung Hee University), Honorary Doctorate in Jurisprudence (Autonomous University of Santo Domingo), Honorary Doctoral Professorship (University of Brazil), Honorary Doctorate in Economics (Beijing University)…

 

Cheers.

 

Jose

 

 

From: Jose

To: Manuel

Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 7:45 AM

Subject: RE: Leadership

 

Dear Manuel

 

These degrees remind me of Prime Minister Juncker: he has the honorary title of doctor honoris causa by the philosophy department of the Westfalian Wilhelms-University in Münster. He is doctor honoris causa in law by the Democrite University of Thrace, doctor honoris causa by the University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvanie), doctor honoris causa by the University of Strasbourg…

 

I don’t think that President Sarkozy has got so many prestigious university titles that demonstrate political experience and leadership.

 

That is the reason why when Prime Minister Juncker states that Luxembourg is not a tax haven, he is more credible than the French President who does not have such international university recognition.

 

That is the reason why when Prime Minister Juncker states that Luxembourg transposed faithfully the UCITS directive, he is more credible than the Ministry of Economy in France and than Commissioner McCreevy that both do not have such international university recognition.

 

Cheers

 

Jose