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Carolina (English) No 061
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STUDENTS' E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECH REPUBLIC
School of Social Sciences of Charles University
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail address: carolina@n.fsv.cuni.cs
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 61, Friday, February 5, 1993.
FROM LAST WEEK'S EVENTS (January 27 - February 3)
Vaclav Havel entered the post of Czech prezident
On Tuesday, February 2 Vaclav Havel undertook a presidential vow in
the historical Vladislav's Hall in the Prague Castle. Thereby he
officially entered the post of Czech President to which he had been
elected last week. The term of office is five years and the head of the
state is undefeasiable.
The inauguration of the first Czech president took place on
a festival meeting of the Deputy Chamber of Parliament of the Czech
Republic attended by the government, Prague Diplomatic Assembly and
other representatives of the public, cultural and religious life. Among
those present there were - with the exception of Slovakia - also the
highest representatives of all the neighbouring states: president of
Germany R. von Weizsacker, Polish president L. Walesa and Austrian
president T.Klestil. Hungarian president A.Goncz was also present.
Slovakian premier Vladimir Meciar apologised for beeing busy and was
substituted by the vice premier and unsuccesful candidate from the first
presidential run, Roman Kovac.
After the oath the flag of the president of the republic flied over
the Prague Castle and 21 artillery salvoes were cauterized.
After the parade of squads of honour on the third courtyard of the
Prague Castle the ceremony was beended by service Te Deum in the Saint
Vitus's Cathedrale which was officiated by Prague's Archbishop M. Vlk.
Wow of fidelity to the Czech Republic
Full reading of the presidential wow:
"I swear fidelity to the Czech Republic. I swear to respect her
constitution and laws. I swear on my honour to perform my post in the
interests of all the people and according to my best knowledge and
conscience."
Vaclav Havel confirmed his wow with a signature of the text and
handing out his hand to Chairman of the Deputy Chamber, Milan Uhde.
Vaclav Havel: I will do everything so as not to disapoint you
This headline in Wednesday's daily Mlada Fronta brings information
about the first public speech of Vaclav Havel in the post of Czech
President. The speech was performed after taking the wow to the
citizents gathered on the third courtyard. Other dailies, for example
Lidove Noviny and Svobodne Slovo published the exact version of the
speech.
In his speech Vaclav Havel appealed to the spirit of politeness,
mutual respect and solidarity. He said that only when the current
changes were accompanied by the spirit of these values, inhabitants of
the Czech Republic can live in good conditions and prosperity.
"I swear to you that I will do my best to contribute to a peaceful
life of all of us and to deserve your confidence. I swear to you that
I will do my best for your children, when they grow up and overtake the
control, to remember our deeds in the best," president said.
Currency Division from Monday
The currency of the Czech republic separates from the Czechoslovak
currency on February 8,1993. Premier Vaclav Klaus announced that
officially in his Tuesday's TV speech. The bill on the division of the
currency was passed on Tuesday morning in Czech Parliament.
The current bank notes will be exchanged for stamped ones in the
ration 1:1 since Thursday 4 till Sunday, February 7 at all post offices
and detached sections of the Czech Savings Bank. During those days the
banks will stop withdrawal from accounts and deposit books. Till Sunday
only not-stamped bank notes are valid in the Czech Republic.
Stamped notes with the value of 100, 500, and 1000 crowns together
with not stamped notes of lower value (10,20,50 and coins) will be valid
since Monday, February 8. On the same day the Czech currency will be
enriched by the first Czech 200 crown bill with the portrait of
J.A.Komensky.
Every citizen aged 15 and more can exchange money to the value of
4000 crown, a person below 15 can exchange maximum 1000 crowns. The
exchange will be certified in the identity card.
Persons who will not be able for serious reasons exchange money can
do so within the following 6 months. If someone has at home more than
4000 crowns, he can deposit it in the Savings Bank of send through post
to his own addresse where it will be delivered already stamped.
The situation in Slovakia is alike. The National Council of the
Slovak Republic passed on Tuesday a bill of precautions for ensuring the
transformation of the Czechoslovak currency to the Slovak currency.
Since Monday, February 8 stamped bank notes will appear there as well.
Unlike the Czech Republic, in Slovakia they are stamping also bank notes
with the value of 10,20 and 50 crowns. Accordingly they do not have
problems with a lack of small money which is now troubling Czech shops,
post offices and banks. Czech people namely keep it at home because
during the separation of the currency it is valid and if they do not
spend it by Monday, the money will not lose its validity.
Slovaki still without president
Even in a repeated secret election on Wednesday, January 27 non of
the candidated got the necessary three-fifths majority.
Candidate of the governing Movement for Democratic Slovakia (MDS),
Roman Kovac obtained 78 votes (in the first round he was the most
succesful from the four candidates with 69 votes). The next succeeding
- candidate of the Party of Democratic Left Wing (PDLW) - Milan Vtacnik
obtained 31 votes (30 in the first round).
The National Council of the Slovak Republic consists of 150
members, MDS has 74 of them and PDLW 28.
The next day of election of Slovak president is February 15 and
16. The parties can not re-nominate candidates who were not succesful.
The candidate of MDS is according to Chairman of the National Council of
the Slovak republic, Ivan Gasparovic - Milan Kovac, the last Chairman of
the Federal Assembly of Czechoslovakia.
All the oposition parties met to talk about a candidate who would
be acceptable to all the political subjects. No official result from
this negotiation was published but the name of the former Deputy
Chairman of the last federal government of Czechoslovakia and today's
Chairman of the Council of MDS, Rudolf Filkus, is frequently mentioned.
In connection with the presidential election difference of opinions
exacerbated between premier V. Meciar and M. Knazko, Vice premier and
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic. V. Meciar accused M.
Knazko of violating party discipline because allegedly Knazko was trying
to induce the members of MDS not to vote for their own candidate - Roman
Kovac. Milan Knazko denies that and explains that he was only spuring on
creating a pluralistic and democratic picture of Slovakia abroad. He did
not, according to his own words, betray the Movement nor his mission at
the Ministry of Foreign Affaires.
The fact that president was not elected is regarded as a loss of
MDS who commited a basic error by nominating their own candidate without
consultations and support of other parties.
Filip Sedivy the first Czech ambassador in Slovakia
Former first vice chairman of the last Federal Assembly and member
of governmental Civic Democratic Party, Filip Sedivy was on Wednesday,
January 27 appointed the first Czech ambassador in the Slovak republic.
The Czech government decided so at its last meeting.
Czech-American company got the licence for CT 2
The Council of the Czech Republic for Radio and Television
Broadcasting licenced CET 21 company with limited guarantee (Central
European Television for 21st century) to broadcast on the channel of CT
2.
This winning project was licenced for 12 years and its owner must
start broadcasting within 260 days under the law.
Petrol more expensive
Since Monday, February 1 the state enterprise Benzina increased the
prices for petrol and diesel oil. The increasing does not overlap 50
hallers for a liter. 1 liter of petrol Special in 18,50, Super 19,50,
Natural 18,90 and Super plus 21,40 Kcs.
Government about the construction in Temelin
The decision of ministers of economy of the Czech government about
the construction of nuclear power station Temelin was already twice put
off. This weak everything should be finally clear.
Minister of the Environment, Frantisek Benda is reputed as
a "for-nuclear" minister. The more suprising is his scepticism about the
assumed decision of the government of the Czech Republic about immediate
completing of the construction in Temelin.
"I will not agree with the construction of nuclear power station
Temelin untill some decising conditions have been set," he said.
A regulation body should be established which would investigate the
question whether the same effect could not be achieved with energy
savings. The savings will become goods and even more lucrative goods
that the production of new megawatts. According to F. Benda the
energetic monopol of the Czech energetic enterprise is in a direct
contradiction with the function of regulation body. Therefore his second
important demand is demonopolisation of the production as well as
distribution of electric energy.
Before the government says its "yes", the question of material
waste should be solved. Also inhabitants to the area up to 30 kilometres
from the power station should speak their mind.
Coronation Jewels displayed
At the occasion of re-establishing the Czech suverenity the
coronation jewels are displayed at the Prague Castle from January 29
till February 7.
Mail matters between the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic limited
Since February 1 mail matters between the Czech Republic and
Slovakia has been limited. Post offices in Slovakia accept only letters
and postcards. Czech post offices have reacted to that with stoppage of
all contacts of payments with the Slovak Republic and stoppaged of
mailing matter cash-on-delivery addressed to the Slovak Republic. Mails
cash-on-delivery sent from Slovakia will be immediately returned to the
sender.
SPORT
Hockey
The federal hockey league has finished two more rounds. Nothern
Bohemian Litvinov is still in the lead, the second position is occupied
by Sparta Praha (victory 7:0 and 3:1 over Kladno) and third Ceske
Budejovice. Even after the 36th round the last two are Pardubice and
Plzen.
By wire
At the third congress of the Czechoslovak Sokol Community the
organisation was re-named to the Czech Sokol Community.
This year's cyclo Peace Competition - Bohemia Crystal 93 will be
led only through the territory of the Czech Republic.
The technical director of the International Hockey Federation IIHR,
R. Neumayer regards the chances of Slovakia on getting in the C group of
the Mastery of the World as minimum.
Football's Sigma Olomouc must play the next competition of the
European Cup in front of empty auditorium. The European Football Union
thus reacted to the riots of the audience in the Cup match with Juventus
Turin.
S.Kasparkova made a new Czech record in high jump with her
achievment of 195 cm.
EXCHANGE RATE OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK CROWN
buy sell
BRD 1DEM 17.37 18.29
USA 1USD 28.35 29.75
GB 1GBP 41.03 44.17
AUT 1ATS 2.47 2.59
FRA 1FRF 5.11 5.43
The rates as of February 3.
P.S. The exchange rate of the Czechoslovak crown (Kcs) appeares in
Carolina for the last time. The next issue will bring the exchange rate
of the Czech crown (Kc)
WEATHER
Three-day snowing caused that pupils got their desired snowfall
just in the time of their short term holidays. The snow situation
improved in the mountains, approximately 15-centimetre layer is in
towns. The temperature sank up to 5 or 10 degrees, nightly even 15
degrees below zero and later frozen layers of snow caused many personal
accidents of pedestrians, and problems on streets including the boarder
beeing blocked with trucks.
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