Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Carolina (English) No 051
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 Sciences 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 51, Friday, November 27, 1992.
FROM LAST WEEK'S EVENTS (November 18-25)
The Bill about the Termination of Czechoslovakia Passed
By the end of December 31, 1992, the Czechoslovak Federation
will cease to exist. The successor states are the Czech Republic
and the Slovak Republic. The Republic Parliament seats will be
occupied both by the deputies elected into the Federal Assembly
and into the National Councils. The Czech National Council, as
well as the National Council of the Slovak Republic can pass laws
even before January 1, 1993, as long as these they come under the
jurisdiction of the Federation. They can be, however, enforced
only after the New Year. The law forbids the Czech and the
Slovak Republic to use the symbol CSFR.
This is a brief summary of the Constitutional Law on the
Termination of the Federation, which was passed on Wednesday,
November 25, at the third round of negotiations. In the House of
the People of the Federal Assembly (FA), the bill was supported
by 93 out of 144 deputies present (90 votes were needed), 16 were
against, 28 abstained and 8 ignored the call.
In the Slovak part of the House of the Nations, 72 deputies
were present, of which number 46 voted in favor, 7 against, 16
abstained and 3 did not vote.
The Czech part of the House of the Nations (with 72
present), the votes went as follows: 45 in favor, 7 against, 11
abstained and 9 did not express themselves. In both parts of the
House, 45 votes in favor were needed for the bill to pass.
From the opposition, 5 deputies from the Liberal Social
Union decided to vote in favor, along with 4 former Republicans
(who were expelled as a result of Dr. Miroslav Sladek's efforts),
2 Slovak and 3 Czech Social Democrats, and 2 representatives of
the Slovak Party of the Democratic Left.
The vote was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but an
airplane carrying Slovak deputies could not take off from
Bratislava on account of bad weather.
The Czech National Council Assumes Responsibility
The declaration about the takeover of full responsibility
for the continuity of the powers of the state on the territory of
the Czech Republic, along with the Czech government, was
approved by the Czech National Council on Thursday, November 19.
"It is the confirmation of the independence which has
already come into existence, rather than its declaration and
constitutionalization," stated the Deputy Premier of the Czech
government Jan Kalvoda, according to the Friday issue of Mlada
Fronta Dnes (The Young Front Today).
The Czech National Council Approved Inter-Republican Treaties
Ten treaties between the Czech and Slovak Republics and five
treaties between the national governments were approved within
two hours by the Czech National Council (CNC) on Tuesday. All
these texts had already been accepted at the joint session of the
governments at the Javorina resort in the High Tatras at the end
of October.
The CNC approved the treaty on the currency arrangement
between the Republics, with the objective to realize the
separation of the currencies resulting in each state having its
own currency. By the treaty on cooperation in the protection and
management of the environment, the ecological regulations in both
states will be coordinated.
The Council also approved the treaty on social security, on
cross-border employment, on legal assistance and criminal
matters, a treaty on the common use of specified archival and
informational resources arising from the activities of the
Ministry of the Interior, a treaty on cooperation in
telecommunication and encryption services, a treaty on the
cooperation in education, a treaty on the reciprocal recognition
of the equivalence of documents about education and academic
ranks and titles, and a treaty on health care.
The deputies of the CNC also discussed a treaty on the
abolition of visa requirements between CR and SR, a treaty on
joint procedures concerning the residence of aliens from third
countries, and a bill on value-added tax (GST for Canadians). A
treaty on personal documents did not find its way into the agenda
of the CNC because of a controversial section concerning the
validity of weapons permits on the territory of the other
republic. According to the opinion of the CNC Deputy Speaker J.
Vlach (Civic Democratic Party), it is just a technicality.
All these treaties and agreements between the republics were
approved both by simple majority even by the deputies of the
National Council of the Slovak Republic.
Problems about the Federal Property
On Monday, the Slovak Premier Vladimir Meciar and the Deputy
Premier of the Czech government Ivan Kocarnik signed in
Bratislava a series of agreements and treaties between the
governments of CR and SR. They did not reach an agreement about
the draft of the common procedures to realize the law on the
division of the property of CSFR, and on versions of certain
other treaties.
The Czech side insists on the division according to the
territorial principle, the Slovak side on a ratio 2:1. In this
ratio, Slovakia would receive the value of the Federal
institutions located on the Czech territory. In principle, the
division of the property is regulated by the Constitutional Law
of the Federal Assembly on the division of property.
For health reasons, the Czech Premier Vaclav Klaus did not
take part in these negotiations. (During a tennis match in Praha-
Pruhonice he pulled a calf muscle in a painful way.)
Test for Gabcikovo
The work on the Gabcikovo Waterworks, with the exception of
works needed to maintain and preservation of the existing
installations, were stopped on November 11, as the Government of
the CSFR had promised during the weekend negotiations in
Brussels. As a consequence of this stoppage and the present high
level of water in the Danube, damages were suffered in the
estimated amount of 100 million crowns, said Julius Binder, the
Director of the Water Management Development in Bratislava. For
example, the rate of flow (6500 cubic meters per second)
approached the first degree flood emergency level (7000 cu. m.).
According to J. Binder, the waterworks will manage this situation
(which is unusual for the last 150 years).
The next round of the negotiations between CSFR, Hungary and
EC will take place on Friday, November 27.
Controversy around the state flag
On Wednesday, November 18, the National Council of the SR
voted in favor of the amendment to the draft of the
constitutional law on the termination of CSFR, in which it is
stated that the Czech Republic cannot use the present flag of the
Federation. Information that the Czech side is considering this,
were published during the past week by some information media.
According to Frantisek Miklosko (Christian-Democratic
Movement), a former chairman of the Slovak National Council, the
use of the state symbols of CSFR by the Czech Republic would
cause tremendous frictions, and would lead to incessant
controversy between CR and SR.
The Deputy Premier of the Federal government, Antonin
Baudys (Christian-Democratic Union - The People's Party) stated
that the Slovak amendment van be accepted since after the demise
of the Federation it would not be legally binding for the Czech
Republic.
Issuing New Passports
It is assumed that within one year's time, the passports of
CSFR issued up to now will be marked with the name of the state
and the state emblem of the republic where the passport holder is
registered as a citizen. The validity of thus marked passports
will be limited in time, so far the suggested deadline is
December 31, 1997. Issuing of brand new passports is scheduled
for the third quarter of 1993.
This was announced on Tuesday by the Bureau of Alien Police
and the Passport Services of the Federal Police Force.
Czech Press Bureau Came Into Existence
The Czech Press Bureau (CTK) was established by a law
already on November 15. It began its real existence only on
November 20 when the Director General of the Czechoslovak Press
Bureau (CSTK), T. Kopriva, and the Czech Minister of Cultural
Affairs J. Kabat signed a protocol about the transfer of the
property of CSTK on the territory of the Czech Republic into the
possession of CTK. The foreign property of the federal agency
will be divided in the 2:1 ratio.
CSTK de facto ceased to exist by the loss of property. The
interim director of CTK will be elected by the CNC by December
15. Candidates for this post are the present director CSTK T.
Kopriva, some opposition deputies intend to nominate his
predecessor P. Uhl.
New Blood into the Civic Movement
On November 11, the delegates of the Third Congress of the
Realistic Alliance of the Youth (REAL) convened in the Prague
Radio Palace. It is a liberally oriented association representing
several thousands of young people, mostly students, who are
interested in the political and economical affairs.
Daniel Soural, a second year student of the Faculty of Law,
was re-elected as a chairman of the Alliance for the next term.
One of the deputy chairmen is Jiri Dienstbier Jr.
During this convention, new bylaws were adopted and a will
was expressed to cooperate with the Civic Movement. Among the
speakers were the chairman of the Civic Movement Jiri Dienstbier,
and the former Premier Petr Pithart.
On Lustrations (screening law)
The legal and moral problems with lustrations (review of
past activities) in the Central and East European countries were
discussed on Saturday at the Faculty of Social Sciences of
Charles University by the participants of a seminar organized by
the Czechoslovak Helsinki Committee together with the Commission
for Human Rights at the Helsinki Civic Assembly.
In the introduction, Vaclav Trojan characterized Bill No.
451/1991 on lustrations: "It affects people who should not be
affected, while avoiding those who probably should be included."
Contributions were presented by the chairperson of the
Czechoslovak Helsinki Committee Libuse Silhanova, Martin Palous,
Petr Uhl, Jan Kavan, a Polish journalist Konstantin Gebert and a
Hungarian philosopher Janos Kis.
Mrs. Zdena Salivarova-Skvorecky pointed out that besides
ideological and financial aspects, it was the question of the
preservation of one's own existence that led some citizens into
collaboration with the former State Security (StB). This fact was
supported by a quote from a secret decree of the Ministry of
Justice of the former CSSR Jan Obzina from January 25, 1978. It
speaks about the possibility to recruit a collaborator of the StB
without a written consent.
SPORTS
Litvinov Still At The Top
The leading team of the Hockey League, Litvinov did not wink
even in the 20th round as it defeated Vitkovice (presently at 3.
spot) closely 3:2. In contrast, its nemesis, Ceske Budejovice
team, lost on home ice with steadily improving Kladno 1:2. The
decisive goal was shot in extended time. Litvinov is now leading
the second-place Budejovice by 5 points (30 and 25,
respectively). The last place Pardubice pulled themselves up to
the next-to-the-last Plzen by winning over Kosice 5:1. The teams
from the middle of the list have very even scores, the total
difference between the third and the eleventh place is mere 4
points.
The Leading Team Lost (in 13th Round)
Tough luck in the form of number thirteen was visited on
Slovan Bratislava which, as a so far leading team (18 points),
lost on the soil of the still last Dukla Praha 2:3. By defeating
Hradec Kralove 3:2, DAC Dunajska Streda pulled itself up in
points to Slovan, but remains second when it comes to scores.
Brno lost at home to Slavia 0:2 and sank from 3. place to 6th.
The third place is now occupied by Sparta (17) which defeated
Nitra 2:0. Olomouc showed a brave performance. Although it played
the whole second half against Banik Ostrava without two
eliminated players, it managed to tie 2:2, while even leading up
to the last minute 2:1.
The UEFA Cup: Sigma Olomouc - Juventus Turin 1:2
Olomouc could not manage against the Juventus defense which
was excellently directed by a German Kohler. Italians made a
killing from two chance opportunities to score and led 2:0. Sigma
just managed to decrease the score by a last minute goal by
Marosi.
WEATHER
On Saturday, snow lay almost everywhere, even Prague
received a mild snow dust during the night. However, early in the
week the temperature climbed to 10 degrees centigrade and the
snow started to thaw even in the mountains. The days are damp and
cold, morning fog and smoke exhalations make the air to be hard
to breathe. Night temperatures sink usually under the freezing
point.
EXCHANGE RATE of the Czechoslovak Crown
purchase sale
USA 1USD 27.96 29.36
FRG 1DEM 17.51 18.43
GB 1GBP 41.84 44.98
FRA 1FRF 5.15 5.47
AUT 1ATS 2.49 2.61
The rates are as of November 26, 1992.
Translation: Slavek Kovarik, KOVARIK@SSCvax.CIS.McMaster.Ca
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation. The
subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated.
To subscribe to CAROLINA you have to send the e-mail message on
the address LISTSERV@CSEARN.BITNET. The text of the message is:
SUBSCRIBE CAR-ENG First name Last name
for the English version or
SUBSCRIBE CAR-CS First name Last name
for the Czech version. To delete your subscription from the list you
should send the message to LISTSERV:
SIGNOFF CAR-ENG or SIGNOFF CAR-CS
