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Carolina (English) No 035
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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
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C A R O L I N A No 35, Friday, July 10, 1992.
THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK ( from July 6 to 10 1992)
The New Federal Government
As promised in our last issue, here is the complete makeup of the
newly-installed government.
Dr. Jan Strasky , former vice-chairman of the Czech government,
became the federal premier. He characterized guarding the federal
character of the common state as the fundamental goal of the federal
government, along with the preparation of conditions for the
constitutional system which the citizens will decide. The first
vice-chairman of the government, charged with overseeing the Ministry of
Control, is Prof. Ing. Rudolf Filkus, an economist who was from June,
1990 until May, 1991 Minister of Economic Strategy for the Slovak
government. Prof. Filkus's ideas about economic reform are not quite
identical with those of HZDS, for whom he was a candidate. He is rather
more liberal. It is said that he was sent into the federal government to
keep him from obstructing the revisions of the reforms desired by the
members of the current Slovak government, whose attitudes were shaped by
the political economy of socialism. Prof. Filkus is a friend of
Alexander Dubcek. The second vice-chairman of the government, entrusted
with the direction of the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs and the
Federal Committee for the Environment, is M.D. Miroslav Macek.
Originally, he was a dentist, but after November, 1989, he worked as
a member of parliament, he is one of the vice-chairmen of the Civic
Democratic Party (ODS) and participated with V. Klaus in all the
coalition talks. A further government vice-chairman is JDr. Milan Cic.
He was given the Ministry of Economic Competition. He was Minister of
Justice of the Slovak Republic before November, 1989, and was a member
of the Communist Party. Today he represents HZDS. The fourth
vice-chairman, given the Ministry of Transport and Communications, is
a member of the People's Party, Doc. Ing. Antonin Baudys, for the last
two years a vice-chairman of the Czech government. Doc. JDr. Josef
Moravcik was nambed Minister of Foreign Affairs. In an interview for
Lidove Noviny on June 8 he said that he does not intend to alter in any
pronounced way the activities of the ministry, directed up to now by
Jiri Dienstbier, but that he would place the emphasis on
professionalism. He also plans to increase the proportions of Czech and
Slovak diplomats abroad. If Czechoslovakia is to be divided, it is,
according to him, necessary to take account of that already today in the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and prepare positive conditions for
a common foreign policy of both states. M.D. Peter Cermak, another
leading personality in the ODS, became federal Minister of the Interior.
He, too, was a member of parliament. Ing. Jan Klak was named Minister of
Finance; from October, 1991, he was the deputy of federal Minister of
Finance Vaclav Klaus. Ing. Jaroslav Kubecka became Minister of Economy
and Strategic Planning. He, too, was in the Slovak government as deputy
minister of the economy before his nomination.
Lieutenant-General Ing. Imrich Andrejcak replaced the civilian,
Dobrovsky, in the position of Minister of Defence. In his first speech
he discussed the necessity of continuing in the traditions of minster
Dobrovsky. President Havel stated that he would have preferred
a civilian minister, but that he had confidence in the newly-nominated
candidate. Immediately upon his appointment, General Andrejcak requested
his transfer to the reserves. He took the oath of office in mufti.
The Czech Government
The Czech premier, as expected, will be Doc. Ing. Vaclav Klaus. The
important post of Minister of Finance was filled by Ing. Ivan Kocarnik,
founder of the ODS and previous deputy of the Minster of Finance. J.Dr.
Jan Kalvoda (ODA), formerly vice-chairman of the Czech National Council,
was named vice-premier of the Czech government. He is a lawyer, who
already warned against the threatening breakup of the state last Spring,
since the expectations of the Czech and Slovak representatives differed
and fruitless negotiations in the national councils would lead nowhere.
The second vice-premier and Minister of Agriculture will be Ing. Josef
Lux, representing the Christian Democrats. For quite some time he has
been active in agriculture, and most recently he was a deputy. The
Minister of Economic Competition will be another Christian Democrat,
Ing. Stanislav Belehradek, formerly chairman of the office of the same
name. Ing. Frantisek Benda is Minister of the Environment, Minister of
Health is the previous chairman of the Committee for Social Policies and
Health of the Czech National Council, M.D. Petr Lom. The important
Ministry for Privatization was occupied by Ing. Jiri Jindrich Vodicka.
The former Minister of Culture, the writer Milan Uhde, who was elected
chairman of the Czech National Council in the second round, was replaced
by the psychologist Dr. Jinrich Kabat, who has already worked at the
ministry for two years in various functions. Education was given to
Prof. Dr. Petr Pit'ha, who has studied at several foreign universities
and was also ordained a priest. His nomination has stimulated some
discussion among the members of the public, since some liberals fear
that the new minister will be too conservative, especially in
introducing private and alternative schooling. Three ministers remain
from the previous government: J.Dr. Jiri Novak - Minister of Justice;
the youngest (born 1959) - Minister of State Control, RNDr. Igor Nemec,
and Ing. Karel Dyba, Minister of the Economy. The very important
Ministry of the Interior will be directed by Jan Ruml, formerly director
of the Federal Police Force. Jan Ruml is the only dissident and
signatory of Charta 77 in this government, he is a member of ODS. To
questions from the press on whether there would be basic changes in the
police force, he replied that policemen who carry out their duties well,
have nothing to be worried about. Ing. Vladimir Dlouhy, previous federal
Minister of the economy, became Minister of Industry and Trade, while
the newly-created Ministry of Foreign Relations was entrusted by Vaclav
Klaus to another economist and founder of ODS, Doc. Ing. Josef
Zieleniec.
Just for interest's sake, three of these ministers were habilitated
as docents right here at our faculty (V. Klaus, V. Dyba, and J.
Zieleniec).
The President receives the Government
President Vaclav Havel received the new Czech government at the
Prague castle on July 7. He called it a young, strong goverment, and the
premier, V. Klaus, introduced it as a coalition government of four
parties, which would complete the economic and social changes. The
shaping of a constitution for the Czech Republic and the new function of
a Czech head of state were also discussed. The program declaration was
adopted by the new government at its session on July 8.
On July 7 the President also met with the outgoing Czech
government, which he thanked for its work, and he visited the
newly-elected parliament, where he praised the calm, rational, and
cooperative tone towards the Slovaks. Even an understanding of the road
the Slovak side has decided to take was not lacking. At the end of next
week, on Friday, July 17, the first meeting of the chairmen of both
National Councils, J.Dr. Ivan Gasparovic and Milan Uhde, should take
place.
New Presidential Elections
The new presidential elections should take place on July 16. Up to
now, no candidate has been put forward. The chairman of the Slovak
Democratic Party, Jan Holcik, expressed the opinion that an appropriate
candidate would be Jiri Dienstbier. This party, however, is not
represented in parliament, and would thus have to gain the support of
deputies from other parties, who would nominate this candidate.
Indications are that Jiri Dienstbier would not meet with opposition from
the leftist parties. It has not been possible to ask the former minster
of foreign affairs what he thinks, since he is currently in Spain.
According to the secretary of the Civic Movement, the suggestion is an
expression of respect for the former minster, and at the same time
a suprising suggestion. After his return, Jiri Dienstbier will surely
make a decision like an experienced politician, said the secretary of
the OH.
Cultural Service
ODEON has just published a book by Pavel Eisner, Rady Cechum, jak
se hrave priuciti cestine, or, Painless Czech for Czech-Speakers
(admittedly a rough translation of the title). Pavel Eisner (1889-1958)
was a native of Prague, from a German Jewish family, a translator,
essayist, critic, journalist, but mainly a person who loved and knew and
observed the Czech language down to the finest details. For the last
forty years he has been thoroughly concealed from Czech readers. He
belongs among the representative of a genuine European outlook, but is
also essentially Czech. Among his most noteworthy works is a linguistic
study of several hundred pages, Chram i tvrz (Temple and Fortress). The
collection mentioned above is taken from this book and other articles,
and edited by a further, contemporary expert on the language, Alexander
Stich.
News from our Faculty's posters
A meeting of all strawberry or currant-pickers, or even mere
tourists, of everyone who is going on holidays to Great Britain, will be
held on the first Sunday in August (August 2) from 2 to 3 p.m. in London
on Trafalgar Square at the foot of Nelson's column. It's pleasant to get
together abroad, find work, take pictures, have a drink . . .
The Weather
The week began with showers, thundershowers, and even in places
with real downpours, and a noticeable cooling trend. Towards the end of
the week real holiday weather is again returning. It should be clear to
partly cloudy, daily highs from 26 to 28 degrees Celsius (beer continues
to be either 12 or 10 degrees, in places even 11 or 8). Mushroom pickers
began their holidays half-way through the week.
= * = * = * = * =
As you all surely know, the university vacation has begun. Today's issue
number 35 will be the last one on a regular, weekly basis. Carolina will
continue to appear irregularly up to the end of the holidays. We will
continue to appear as far as it is within our powers. For you, our
subscribers, we wish a pleasant vacation. We will be appearing regularly
again from the end of August.
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