Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Carolina (English) No 021
CCCCC AA RRRRR OOOO LL II NN N AA
CC AA A RR R OO O LL II NNN N AA A
CC AA A RRRRR OO O LL II NN N N AA A
CC AAAAAA RR R OO O LL II NN NN AAAAAA
CCCCC AA A RR R OOOO LLLLLL II NN N AA A
STUDENT'S E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA
School of Social Science of Charles University
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
C.S.F.R.
e-mail address: CAROLINA@CSEARN.BITNET
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 21, Friday, April 3, 1992.
The events of the last week/from March 25 - April 1/
Arguments on nuclear energy
Opponents of nuclear energy protested after the release of radioactive
iodine from the Sosnovy bor nuclear power plant on March 24. Greenpeace
Czechoslovakia and the ecology movement "Duha" organized information
campaigns in the larger towns. A nuclear power station in Jaslovske Bo-
hunice in May of 1991 also suffered a mishap. The equipment there, as in
most nuclear reactors in eastern and central Europe, is considered by
experts to be of inferior quality and old design. Current government po-
licy accepts nuclear energy as more ecologically sound than other con-
temporary alternatives. Monitoring systems now in place provide immedia-
te information on radioactivity and provide warnings in the event of ac-
cidents.
A new storage facility for nuclear fuel will be built near Dukovany. Va-
rious guarantees for the local inhabitants have been discussed by the
Federal government. The International Committee for Nuclear Energy last
week conducted an emergency drill.
Party's deputies in the Castle
Presidential spokesman Michael Zantovsky announced that Havel will sign
a friendship treaty with Russia and will visit Bulgaria on April 6 to
sign a similar treaty of friendship and cooperation with Bulgarian Pre-
sident Zelev. A trip to Japan will take place soon to speak about econo-
mic matters.
The President's meetings with political party representatives go on.
He has met with delegations from the Civic Movement (OH) led by Foreign
Minister Jiri Dienstbier, the Movement for Self Goverment and Democracy
(HZSD), and the Society for Moravia and Selesia.
Zantovsky also responded to negative commentary from the left-wing press
on the Czech-German treaty, saying the comments were very subjective. He
refused comment on the response of other politicians as the President
wishes to be independent of political parties. Mr. Zantovsky also said
he doesn't expect more presidential assistants to leave their posts to
stand for elections.
Daniel Kroupa in Discussion with Philosphers
Danial Kroupa, speaking on behalf of the Civic Democratic Aliance,
(ODA), introduced his party's proposals for changes to the Czechoslovak
constitution. The plans would encourage executive power and a strong fe-
deral government. The Prime Minister would be elected by the Parliament
but would not be nominated by the President. The President would be able
to dissolve the Parliament and veto legislation. The Parliament would
consist of a Senate and a Parliamentary House with differing electoral
systems.
Mr. Kroupa said that Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland are more sensi-
tive to the threats of totalitarianism and dangers to democracy, but
they don't have to create carbon copies of western political systems.
Kroupa is famous as a conservative politician and a respected philosop-
her. He is a fellow of Jan Patocka who is considered to be the best phi-
losopher after President Masaryk.
Captain Zak to be tried
Former police captain Alexej Zak, who has been granted political asylum
in Switzerland, has been refused a request for pardon by a military
court. The request refered only to the crime of desertion from his post.
He has been accused of abuse of power, blackmail, and civil rights vio-
lations in the course of his work as an investigation commissioner in
Agrokombinat Slusovice. The investigation is continuing. He may be tried
in absentia.
Political topics
The elections will take place in two months. Campaigning will start on
May 13. The institute for public opinion survey published the results
from a March 15 poll. Results show election preferences did not change
since last July.
Civic Democratic Party{ODS} still wins in the Czech republic with 19%.
The leader of ODS is Vaclav Klaus. The second most supported party is
the communist party with 8%, Social Democratic Party with 7%,
Liberal-social Union {Agriculture Party, Czechoslovak Socialistic Party,
Green Party} with 7%. Despite a big popularity the Civic Movement{OH}
did not gather 5% of votes that are needed for proceeding to the Parila-
ment.
Slovakia kept the same situation as well. Oposition of the government
still gets a majority of votes. The Movement for Democratic Slovakia win
with 30%, Slovakian National Party, Party of Democratic Left
Wing{former communistic party} and Christian Democratic Movement gets
the same support- 13%. Other parties get small suport of voters; Democ-
ratic party has 5%, Civic Democratic Union 2%. The Civic Democratic Uni-
on won the last elections in 1990.
The orders of the most popular polititians are very different in both
republics. In the Czech republic the order is: President Havel, Jiri
Dienstbier{Minister of Foreigh Affairs, Civic Movement}, Vladimir
Dlouhy{Minister of Economy, Civic Democratic Alliance}, Vaclav
Klaus{Minister of Fonances, Civic Democratic Party}, Petr
Miller{Minister of Work and Social Matters, Civic Movement}. The most
popular Slovakian politicians belong to the left-wing: Alexandr
Dubcek{the Chairman of the Parliament}, Vladimir Meciar{HZDS}, Valtr
Komarek{Czechoslovakian Social Democratic Party}.
The Governments instead of Parliaments
The vice-dean of the law faculty , Dusan Hendrych, introduced his opini-
on dealing with the negotiations division of our state. The negotiations
did not bring any results although they took place for one and a half of
year. Mr Hendrych said:"The negotiation of chairman boards in Czech and
Slovak Parliament were not succesfull because the law making corp is not
ready to solve the problem dealing with state's division. However only
chairman boards took part in negotiations, there were 20 participants on
each side. The opinion of delegations are often very different besides
that is every MP obliged by opinion of his political club. The chairman
board has minimum right because chairman is representative. That's why
I think other negotiation should be led on government's level. Republic
and federal governments should participate in negotiations. The compe-
tence of both republic is one of the most important questions. The mat-
ter should be supervised by competent minister. Both sides agreed in the
last meeting in Milovice. It is difficult to expect today an approach of
future governemnt parties towards a model accepted in Milovice. The com-
promise is possible; The proposal made by both governments will be pas-
sed to national parliaments".
The Arguing about Territory
The ratification of the agreement between European Association of Free
Trade and Czechoslovakia can't be signed before the territorial problems
between Czechoslovakia and Lichenstein are be solved. An area of 1600
square km belonging to Lichtenstein's ruling family was confiscated in
1918. The original owners got financial satisfaction. According to
Czechoslovak law restitution before 1948 can't be given back. The right
of Lichenstein to get back territories doesn't exist. Federal Ministry
of Foreign Affairs is ready to keep negotiations about the matter with
Lichenstein. EAFT is willing to ratify the treaty without agreement of
Lichenstein. Its agreement will be enclosed later.
Cultural service
The exhibition"Pictures from Old Law " was opened in Saint Nicolas
Church and a newly opened galery in Maisel street on April 1. Ruth Kho-
rova, who was born in Bohemia and living today in Germany, presents her
work here. She uses special techniques in her pictures: she paints with
colour pens on wooden board. The exhibition is open every day except Sa-
turday from 10-18.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation.
To subscribe Carolina please send the e-mail message with subject
"Carolina/Eng: Subscription" for the english version (and "Carolina/Cs:
Subscription" for the czech version) on our e-mail address above. To
drop sending you replace the word Subscription" by "Unsubscription".
The subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated.
